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
it bee imagined how great authoritie and force that Cittie in short space atteined vnto So that it became not onely chiefe of Toscana but also was accounted amongst the best Cities of Italy and should haue so continued had not the often and new diuisions disturbed the same vnder this gouernment the Florentines liued tenne yeares within which time they enforced the Pistoiesi Aretini and Senesi to make league with them Returning from Sienna with their Army they surprized Volterra and demolished some castles leading the inhabitants of them to Florence All which enterprises were performed by counsell of the Guelfi who could do much more then the Ghibilini because they for their insolencie during the raigne of Federigo were hated of the people The faction of the church also much more loued then the faction of the Emperour because the Florentines hoped thereby to preserue their libertie but beeing vnder the Emperour they feared to loose it The Ghibilini then seeing themselues bereft of authoritie could not liue contented but still aspecting occasion to recouer the gouernment and seeing Manfredi sonne of Federigo possessed of the kingdome of Napoli who had also discomforted the forces of the church thought the time come to serue their purpose Secretly then they practised with him to take their authoritie vppon him but their practise was not so cunningly handled but that the same was discouered to the Antiani who presently sent for the Vbarti They not onely refused to appeare but also tooke Armes and fortified themselues in their houses wherwith the people offended likewise tooke Armes and ayding the Guelfi enforced them and all the rest of the Ghibilini to abandon Florence and go vnto Siena From whom they prayed aide of Manfredi king of Napoli and by the industry of Farrinata Vberti the Guelfi vpon the riuer Arbia receiued so great an ouerthrow and slaughter as those that were saued returned not to Florence but supposing their Cittie lost fled into Lucca The chiefe Captaine of those souldiers sent by Manfredi was Earle Giordano a man of war in that time greatly esteemed Hee after the victorie went with the Ghibilini to Florence reducing the citie wholly to the obedience of Manfredi deposing the magistrates and altering euerie other order whereby might appeare any forme of libertie Which iniurie with small wisdom committed was generally of the people taken in great disdaine and of friends to the Ghibilini they became mortal enemies wherof with time grew their vtter ruine The Earle Giordano hauing occasion to return to Napoli for the seruice of that kingdome left in Florence as deputie for the king the Earle Guido Nouella Lord of Casentino who at Empoli assembled a Councell of Ghibilini it was necessarie to raze Florence as apt by reason the people were Guelfi to recouer force for the aide of the church To this so cruell a sentence in preiudice of that noble citie there was no citizen nor friend Farinata Vbarti excepted that apposed himself He openly without respect spake in fauour therof laid that he had not laboured nor aduentured himselfe in so many perils but to the end he might inhabit his natiue country would not loose that he had so long sought nor shunne that which fortune had laid vpō him Yea being no lesse enemy to them that should so determine then he had bene to the Guelfi he wold not refuse to fauour his country hoping that his vertue which had chased out the Guelfi from Florence should also defend the same Farinata was a man of great courage excellent in the wars chief of the Ghibilini and greatly esteemed of Manfredi his opinion therefore preuailed and new means were thought vpō how to preserue the state The Guelfi before fled to Lucca for feare of the Earles threatning were sent away from thence and went to Bologna frō whence they were called by the Guelfi of Parma to go with them to an enterprise against the Ghibilini wherin by their vertue the enimies were vanquished and they recouered their owne possessions So that encreasing in riches honour knowing also that Pope Clemente had sent for Carlo of Angio to take the kingdome from Manfredi by Ambassaders they offered him their seruice and the Pope did not onely receiue them for his friendes but also gaue them his Ensigne which euer sithence the Guelfi haue carried in their warres and is that which at this day is vsed in Florence Then was Manfredi by Carlo dispossessed of his kingdome and slain In which enterprise the Guelfi of Florence happening to be present their faction gained reputation and the Ghibilini became the weaker Whereupon those that gouerned with the Earle Guido at Florence thought it meere by some benefit to winne the loue of the people which with many iniuries had before that time bene lost For those remedies which before this time of necessitie would haue preuailed vsing them now without order and out of time did not onely hurt but also hasten their ruine They then thought good to make the people friends and partakers of such honours and authoritie as had bene taken from them and elected thirtie sixe Citizens Commoners who with two Gentlemen called from Bologna should reforme the state of the Citie They thus assembled presently diuided the Citie into Arts or Misteries ouer euery one of which Misteries they appointed one Magistrate to do iustice to all those within his gouernment They ordeined also an Ensigne to euerie Misterie to the end that all men might repaire therunto armed whensoeuer occasion did serue These Misteries were in the beginning twelue seuen great and fiuelesse Afterwards the lesse Misteries encreased to fourteene so then the number was as at this present it is twenty one The thirtie six men appointed for reformation practised many things for the benefit of the people The Earle Guido for the paying of the souldiers imposed a Subsidie vppon the Citizens whom hee found so vnwilling therewith as hee durst not enforce them to paie those summes that were imposed And supposing to haue lost the state he ioyned himselfe with the chiefe of the Ghibilini which done determined to take that frō the people by force which they for want of iudgement had graunted For that purpose assembling the souldiers Armed and accompanied with the thirtie sixe Reformers hee made an Alarum and foorthwith the Reformers retired themselues to their houses and the Ensignes of the Misteries came foorth followed by many Armed men who vnderstanding that the Earle Cuido with his followers were at Saint Giouanni they made head at Saint Trinita and there elected Giouanni Sodarini theyr Captaine The Earle on the other side hearing where the people were marched towardes them who fled not but assoone as the Earle drew neare charged him neare vnto the place called Loggio delli Tornaquinci There they forced the Earle to retire with the slaughter and losse of many his souldiers The Earle fearing that his enemy seeing his souldiers maimed and weary would
helpe him for not hurting himselfe returned backe Corso thus ending his life which happened in the yeare 1308. was the cause that all tumults ceased and the citie continued quiet till such time as intelligence was giuen that Arrigo the Emperour who fauoured by the Florentine Rebelles was come into Italy followed by them and intending to put them againe in possession of their country For preuenting of which mischiefe the Magistrates of the citie thought good to call home all those that had not bene by speciall name banished whereby the number of their enemies should be the lesse The greater number that remained in exile were Ghibilini and some fewe of the faction Bianca among whom were Dante Alighieri the sonnes of Veri de Cerchi and Giano della Bella. They sent also for aide to Roberto King of Napoli which not obteined at his hand as their friend they were enforced to giue him the citie for fiue yeares to the end he might defend them as his subiects Then the Emperour passed into Italy and by the way of Pisa went to Rome there to be crowned in the yeare 1312. Afterwards determining to reforme Florence hee returned thither by Perugia and Arezzo and lodged his Campe at the Monastery of S. Salui distant one myle from the citie where he remained fiftie dayes without any good done and therfore as desperate of successe remoued to Pisa where he agreed with Federigo King of Sicilia to assault the kingdom of Napoli Being with his Army there arriued in great hope of victorie and the King Roberto in great feare of his distruction at Buouconuento he died It happened shortly after that Vguccione di Faggiola became Prince of Pisa and not long after of Lucca brought thither by the faction of Ghibilini with whose aide he greatly iniured his neighbours Amongst whom the Florentines to be deliuered gaue vnto the brother of King Roberto the gouernment of their Army Vguccione on the other side for the encreasing of his power laboured continually till by force and subtiltie he had gotten many Castles in the vale of Arno and Nieuole Then marching towards Monte Catini with intent to besiege the same the Florentines thought it necessarie to rescue that place least the losse thereof might disturbe the whole countrey Then assembling a great Army they passed into the vale Nieuole where they fought with Vguccione and in the end of their battaile two thousand or more of their men were slaine with Piero the Kings brother their Generall whose bodie afterwards was neuer found neither was this victorie without losse to Vguccione whose sonne was also killed with many Captaines and Leaders of his Armie The Florentines after this ouerthrow fortified the townes about them and the King Roberto sent them a new Generall called Andrea Earle Nouello By whose gouernment or rather by the naturall inclination of the Florentines discontented with euerie state and diuided by euerie accident notwithstanding the warres they lately had with Vguccione fell to faction The one part whereof called themselues the Kings friends the other the Kings enemies The chiefe of the Kings enemies were Simon della Tosa the house of Magalotti with certaine other populer men in whom rested the chiefe of the gouernment These men found meanes to send into France and Germany to leauie Captaines and souldiers to remoue the Earle Andrea Gouernour for the King But their fortune was such as could not bring to passe that they desired yet did they not abandon the enterprise but beeing disappointed both by France and Germany they found out a Gouernour in Agobio and before his comming remoued Andrea Lando de Agobio being come was made their minister or rather their hangman hauing receiued absolute authoritie ouerall the citizens He being a man couetous and cruell accompanied with his souldiers all armed visited euerie streete murthering euerie man whom those that elected him would require Yea such was his insolencie that he caused false mony to be quoined with the stampe of Florence and no man durst gainsay the doing therof so great was the authoritie whereunto the discord of the citie had brought him Great and lamentable was the estate of this towne which neither the memorie of passed diuision neither the feare of Vguccione nor the authoritie of the King could reforme In most miserable plight it then remained when the country abroad was spoyled by Vguccione and the citie within by Lando of Agobio sacked The Kings friends were all contrary to Lando and his followers Likewise all Noble houses the chiefe of the people al the Guelfi Notwithstanding because the aduerse party had the gouernment they could not without perill to themselues be discouered Yet resoluing to be deliuered from so dishonest a tyrannie they wrote secretly vnto the King Roberto to make the Earle Guido Buttifolle his Lieftenant in Florence which the King presently did and the aduerse part notwithstanding that the Senators were contrarie to the King durst not for the respect they bare to the Earle finde fault But the Earle had not therby much authoritie because the Senators the Gonfaloniere were by Lando and his partie fauoured During the continuance of these troubles in Florence the daughter of King Alberto comming from Germany passed that way in her iourny towards Carlo the sonne of Roberto her husband She was greatly honoured by the Kings friends and they imparted vnto her the state of the citie and the tyrannie of Lando with his followers In so much as by the fauour of her before her departure the citie was pacified Lando remoued from his authoritie and with riches blood and spoile sent home to Agobio The gouernment also of the King ouer the citie for three yeares was continued And whereas there had bene before seuen Senators elected by Lando six more were chosen for the King so the Magistrates were for a time thirteene After they were reduced to the auncient number of seuen About this time Vguccione was depriued of his authoritie in Lucca Pisa and Castruccio Castracani from a priuate Cittizen aspired to be Lord of Lucca for hee being a yoong man of great courage in euerie enterprise fortunate became in short space the principall Leader of all the Chibilini in Toscana For which respect the Florentines setting aside priuate discord deuised with themselues by what meanes Castruccio might be kept downe and how his forces alreadie growne might be resisted And to the end that the Senators might with better counsell be aduised with more authoritie execute the same they elected twelue Cittizens whome they called Boni Homini without whose consent and counsell the Senators might not do any thing of importance In this mean while the gouernment of king Roberto was expired the citie became Prince ouer it selfe with the auncient Magistrates and gouernors therof Also the great feare they had of Castruccio did hold the same vnited hee hauing done many things against the Lords of Lunigiana and assembled Prato The
gaue great reputation to the faction of Cosimo and much terror to the enemy that so mightie a Common weale refused not to sell their libertie to the Florentines Which was thought to be done not so much to gratifie Cosimo as to exasperate the factions in Florence make by meanes of bloud the diuision of our citie the more daungerous Because the Venetians found that there was nothing that so much hindred their greatnes as the vniting thereof Thus the citie being acquite both of the enemies persons suspected to the state the gouernours studying to pleasure other people make their own part the stronger restored the house of Alberti with all other Rebels All the great Citizens a few except were brought into the order of the people the possessions of the rebels at smal prices among them sold Moreouer with new lawes and orders they strengthened themselues making new Squittini taking out the names of their enemies putting in the names of their friends Also being warned by the ruine of their enemies and iudging that it sufficed not for the holding of the state to haue the Squittini full of their friends they also thought good that the Magistrates of life and death should be chosen of the chiefe of their faction It was therfore required that the makers of the new Squittini togither with the old Senate should haue authoritie to create the new They gaue vnto the Eight authoritie ouer life and death and prouided that those that were banished should not though their time were expired return vnlesse of the Senat and the Colledges being in number 37. were thereunto consenting or at the least thirtie foure of them To write vnto those that were confined or receiue any letters from them was forbidden Also euery word euery signe euery action that offended the Gouernours was greeuously punished And if in Florence remained any suspitiō it was the Impositions lately imposed so hauing driuē out their aduersaries or brought thē to great pouerty assured themselues of the state Also not to want forrein aid but preuent such as thereby determined to offend them they did confederate and make league with the Pope the Venetians and the Duke of Milan The state of Florence resting in these tearmes Giouanna Queene of Naples dyed making by her testament Rinieri de Angio heyre of her Kingdome At that time Alfonso King of Aragon happened to be in Sicilia and hauing the friendship of many Barrons there prepared himselfe to possesse that Kingdome The Napolitanes and many of the Lords fauoured Rinieri The Pope on the other side would neither that Rinieri nor Alfonso might possesse it but desired that himselfe should gouerne it by a Deputy of his owne Yet Alfonso being arriued in the Kingdome was by the Duke of Sessa receiued and there enterteined some other Princes hoping to surprize Capoua which the Prince of Tarranto in the name of Alfonso possessed and by that meane to constraine the Napolitanes to yeeld to his will For that purpose he sent his Nauie to assault Gaietta which was holden for the Neapolitanes The Napolitanes then prayed ayde of Philippo who perswaded the Genouesi to take that enterprise in hand They not onely to satisfie the Duke their Prince but also to saue the merchandize they had in Naples and Gaietta armed a mightie Nauie Alfonso on the contrary side vnderstanding thereof encreased his forces and went in person to encounter the Genouesi with whom he fought neere vnto the Island of Pontio and there his Nauie was vanquished himselfe with diuerse other Princes taken and sent by the Genouesi to Philippo This victorie dismayd all the Princes of Italy because thereby they thought he might become owner of all But he so diuerse are the opinions of men tooke a course cleane contrary to expectation This Alfonso being a man verie wise so soone as he could come to the speech of Philippo tolde how greatly he deceiued himselfe to fauour Rinieri and disfauour him because if Rinieri were King of Naples he would labour with all his force to bring the Dukedome of Milan to the hands of the French King by reason his ayde was at hand his furniture of all things necessarie and the way open for his reliefe Neither could he looke for better then his owne ruine if he made that state to become French But the contrarie would follow if himselfe might be Prince For he not fearing any other enemy then the French should be enforced to loue honour and obey him who had the onely power to open the way to his enemies So that although the Kingdome should rest with Alfonso yet the authoritie and power thereof would remaine in the hands of Philippo Wherefore it would much more import him then himselfe to consider the perill of the one and the profit of the other vnlesse he desired more to satisfie his fantesie then assure the state Because in doing the one he should be Prince and free by the other in the middest of two mightie enemies either sure to lose the state vtterly liue alwayes in suspition or as a subiect obey them These words wrought so deepe in the Dukes mind that changing his intent he deliuered Alfonso honorably returned him to Genoua and from thence to the Kingdome There he imbarked againe and being arriued at Gaietta his deliuery was knowne and that Countrey sodeinly surprized by certaine Lords his followers The Genouesi seeing that without respect to them the Duke had deliuered the King and that he whome they with their charge and perill had honoured did not make them aswell partakers of the honor in the Kings inlargement as of the iniurie to him done and his ouerthrow grew greatly offended In the Cittie of Genoua when it liueth in libertie there is created one head whome they call Doge not to be a Prince absolute nor to determine alone but as chiefe to propound those matters whereof the Magistrates and Councels should consult Within that Towne be many noble Families which are so mightie that with difficultie they yeeld to the authoritie of Magistrates And of them the houses of Fregosa and Adorna be of greatest force From these the diuisions of that Cittie and the causes of ciuill disorders did proceed For they many times contending for gouernment not onely ciuilly but also by armes it falleth out that euer the one faction is afflicted and the other gouerneth It also happeneth many times that those who are deposed from authoritie do pray ayde of forreine armes and yeeld that gouernment to others which they themselues could not enioy Hereof it proceedeth that those who gouerned in Lombardy do for the most part commaund in Genoua as it happened at such time as Alfonso was taken Among the chiefe of the Genouesi that caused the Cittie to be giuen into the hands of Philippo was Francesco Spinola who not long after he had brought his countrey in bondage as in like cases it euer happeneth became suspected to
proofe if they might be by sea releeued and for that purpose loaded their Gallies with victuall and sent them thither But in their passage they were encountred with seuen of the Kings Gallies which tooke two of them and suncke the others This losse bereft the Florentine souldiers of hope to be reuictualled Thereupon two hundreth or more Pyoners for want of drinke fled vnto the Kings Campe the rest of the souldiers mutined complayning that in those hote places they could not remaine without wine because water was there most vnwholesome So that the Commissaries determined to abandon that place and imploy their forces to recouer certaine Castles which remained in the Kings hand Who on the other side although he wanted not victual being in force the stronger yet was his Camp afflicted with sicknesse bred there by the infection of the aire nere vnto the sea by mean wherof almost euerie man was infected and many of them also died These occasions ministred communication of peace wherin the King demaunded fiftie thousand Florins and Piombino to be left at his discretion The matter being debated at Florence by many desirous of peace the demands were thought reasonable For they were perswaded a war so chargeable as that was could not without great expence be mainteined Notwithstanding Neri Capponi went vnto Florence and there with such reasons as he made altered their minds Disswading them vtterly to accept those conditions and the Florentines receiued the Lord of Piombino as recommended promising both intime of warre and peace to defend him if he would as hitherto he had fight couragiously in defence of his owne Citie The King vnderstanding this resolution and seeing his owne Campe afflicted with sicknesse brake vp and retired with the rest into the country of Siena leauing behinde him two thousand dead bodies From thence he marched towards the kingdome and being exceedingly offended with the Florentines threatned the next Spring to make vppon them a new warre While matters were thus handled in Toscana the Earle Francesco became Generall of the Milanesi and before anie thing done obteined the friendship of Francesco Piccinino who had likewise serued them which he did to the end that his enterprises might be the more fauoured and by Piccinino the lesse impeached Then marched he with his Armie to the field wherby the Citizens of Pauia fearing they could not defend themselues and being on the other side vnwilling to obey the Milanesi offered him the Towne with condition that he should not deliuer it to them The Earle greatly desired the possession of that Citie thinking that the hauing thereof would be a good beginning to colour his intent being neither deteined with feare nor abashed to breake his faith For great men do call losse a thing dishonourable but to compasse their desire by craft is accounted no shame at all Notwithstanding he doubted least his taking of the Towne in this sort would so offend the Milanesi as for that cause they woulde yeeld themselues to the Venetians and if it were not taken by him then he feared the Duke of Sauoia to whom many of the Citizens were willing to giue it So as by euerie of those meanes hee thought himselfe bereft of the dominion of Lombardy yet supposing it lesse perill to take the Citie for himselfe then leaue it to an other determined to accept it being perswaded it was notwithstanding possible to content the Milanesi whom he enformed of those perils wherunto they should fall if he accepted not the Citie of Pauia For that Citie if it were by him refused would yeelde to the Venetians or the Duke of Sauoia in either of which cases their countrey should be lost and therefore thought rather be contented to haue him their neighbour and friend then any other that were more mightie and their enemie The Milanesi were much troubled with this matter imagining that the Earle had thereby discouered his ambition and the end whereunto he tended Yet thought they not good to take knowledge thereof because leauing the Earle they sawe not whither to addresse themselues vnlesse it were to the Venetians whose pride and hard dealing they mistrusted Wherefore they resolued not to shake off the Earle but for the present by him to be be deliuered of those inconueniences hoping after to be also deliuered of himselfe For they were not onely assaulted by the Venetians but also by the Genouesi and the Duke of Sauoia who made warre in the name of Carlo of Orliens sonne to the sister of Philippo But the Earle easily withstood their mallice Then were the Venetians his only enemies who with a mightie Armie determined to surprize that state and had alreadie possessed Lodi and Piacenza wherunto the Earle brought his camp and after a long siege sacked that Citie Which done because the winter was alreadie come he retired his men to their lodgings and went himselfe to Cremona where with his wife he rested all that winter But the spring being come the Armies of the Venetians and Milanesi returned to the field The Milanesi desired to surprize Lodi and after make peace with the Venetians Because the charges of warre did burthen them and the fidelitie of their General was suspected For these reasons they wished a peace as well to repose themselues as to be assured of the Earle Then they resolued their Army should besiege Carrauaggio hoping that Lodi would yeeld so soone as the Castle could be taken from the enemie The Earle obeyed the Milanesi although his intent was to haue passed Adda and assault the country of Brescia The siege being laid to the Castle of Carrauaggio hee trenched and fortified his Campe least happily the Venetians would assaile him The Venetians on the other side conducted by Micheletto their Generall marched within two bowes shot off the Earles Campe where diuerse dayes both the Armies remained the one many times offending the other Notwithstanding the Earle stil besieged the castle did so straightly distresse it as it was readie to yeeld which greatly displeased the Venetians fearing that the losse thereof would be the ruine of all the enterprise Great disputation arose among their Captaines by what meanes it might be succoured But no other way could be deuised then to assault the enemies in their trenches which was exceeding daungerous Notwithstanding so greatly they esteemed the losse of that Castle as the Senate of Venice beeing naturally fearefull to meddle with any matter either doubtful or dangerous did chuse rather to hazard all then with the losse of that to lose the enterprise They resolued therfore by all meanes to assault the Earle one morning earely charged him on that side where they thought he was weakest At the first charge as it happeneth in those assaults which be not looked for all the Armie was dismaid Notwithstanding the Earle sodeinly repaired the disorders had handled the matter so that notwithstanding many assaults the enemies were forced in the end not onely to retire but also
haue bene greater then the mind of man could haue conceiued But it pleased God by that small example to reuiue in mens mindes the memory of his power But now to returne to our matter The King Alfonso as is before said discontented with the peace and seeing that the warre which he caused Giacopo Piccinino to make vpon the Sanesi without any reasonable occasion had wrought no effect he thought to moue an other with the allowance of the league And in the yeare 1456. he assaulted the Genouesi both by sea and land as desirous to giue that state to the Adorni and depriue the Frigosi who then gouerned Besides that he caused Giacopo Piccinino to passe Tronto and assault Gismondo Malatesti who hauing well manned his townes regarded not much the assault of Giacopo so as the enterprise of the King on this side tooke no effect at all But that warre of Genoua occasioned more warre to him and his Kingdome then himselfe looked for At that time Pietro Fregoso was Duke of Genoua he fearing himselfe to be of force vnable to withstand the Kings assault determined to giue that to an other which himselfe could not hold and yeeld it into the hands of such a one that would at the least in that respect defend him so might he also hope in time to come to be reacquited Then sent he Embassadors to Carlo the seauenth King of France and offered him the dominion of Genoua Carlo accepted this offer and to take possession of that Cittie sent thither Giouanni de Angio sonne to King Rinato who not long before was departed from Florence and returned into Fraunce For Carlo was perswaded that Giouanni hauing bene before imployed in Italy knew how to gouerne that Cittie better then any other hoping also that being there he might deuise vpon the enterprise of Naples of which Kingdome Alfonso had dispossessed his father Rinato Then went Giouanni to Genoua and being there was receiued as Prince All the fortresses belonging to the Cittie with the whole gouernment were deliuered to his hand This accident displeased Alfonso thinking he had drawne in an enemy ouer mightie yet not dismayed therewith couragiously followed his enterprise and sayled on with his Nauie till he came vnder Villa Marina at Ponto Fino where taken with a sodeine disease he died By death of this King Giouanni and the Genouesi were deliuered of the warre and Ferrando who succeeded his father Alfonso in the Kingdome grew suspitious least an enemy of so great reputation in Italy might happily win the fauour of many his Barons whose fidelitie he doubted and whose mindes he knew desirous of Innouation for which respects they might percase be perswaded to ioyne with the French He also instructed the Pope whose ambitious mind as he thought aspired to take from him this new Kingdome His onely trust was in the Duke of Milan he being indeed no lesse carefull of the Kingdome then was Ferrando for he mistrusted that if the French did preuaile they would also labour to surprize his state which they had some colour to claime as to them apperteining That Duke therfore presently vpon the death of Alfonso determined to giue that Kingdome vnto Pietro Lodouico Borgia his nephew Also to make that enterprise seeme more honest and acceptable to the rest of the Italian Princes he published that his intent was to reduce that Kingdom vnder the Church of Rome perswading the Duke in that respect not to fauour Ferrando offering him those townes which of auncient time he possessed in the Kingdome But in the middest of these imaginations and new troubles Pope Calisto died and in his place was created Pio secundo borne in Siena and of the family of Piccolhuomini This Pope minding onely to benefite the Christians and honor the Church setting aside all priuate passion at the Duke of Milans request crowned the King Ferrando thinking he should better appease the warres by mainteining of him in possession then by fauouring the French to giue them the Kingdome or if he should as Calisto did challenge it for himselfe For this benefite Ferrando gaue vnto Antonio the Popes nephew the principallitie of Malfi and married him vnto his owne base daughter He restored also Beneuento and Terracina to the Church Then all men supposing that the armes of Italy were laid downe the Pope tooke order to mooue the Christians to make warre vpon the Turks as it was before deuised by Pope Calisto At which time there rose great dissention betwixt the Fregosi and Giouanni de Angio Lord of Genoua which dissention reuiued a warre of more importance then was the other alreadie passed At that time Pietrino Fregoso happened to be at a Castle of his in Riuiera He not holding himselfe according to his merits rewarded by Giouanni de Angio who by help of him and others of his house was made Prince became open enemy to Giouanni This discord pleased Ferrando as that which might onely be the meanes of his good speed Then sent he men and money to Pietrino hoping by his aide to driue Giouanni from that state Which he knowing sent into Fraunce to encounter Pietrino There finding much fauour he receiued a great supply and went against Pietrino who was become strong also so as Giouanni retired into the Cittie where also in the night Pietrino entred and possessed some places thereof but the next morning was by the souldiers of Giouanni assaulted and slaine and all his men likewise either slaine or taken This victorie encouraged Giouanni to set vpon the Kingdome and in October 1459. with a mightie nauie he departed from Genoua And landing at Baia marched from thence to Sessa where he was by the Duke of that countrey receiued Then came vnto Giouanni the Prince of Tarranto the Cittizens of Aquila with many other townes and Princes in so much as that Kingdome was almost ruined Ferrando seeing that desired aide of the Pope and the Duke Also to haue the fewer foes made peace with Gismondo Malatesti wherewith Giacopo Piccinino being naturall enemy to Gismondo became so much displeased as he discharged himselfe from the seruice of Ferrando and ioyned with Giouanni Ferrando also sent money to enterteine Federigo Lord of Vrbino and within short space he assembled according vnto that time a great army Then marched he to the riuer of Sarni where he found the enemy and fought with him in which conflict the forces of King Ferrando were ouerthrowne and many of his principall Captaines taken But notwithstanding this ouerthrow the Cittie of Naples with a fewe other townes and some Princes continued faithfull to Ferrando though all the rest of the Realme and Nobilitie yeelded their obedience to Giouanni Giacopo Piccinino perswaded Giouanni to follow the victorie and presently to marche to Naples thereby to possesse himselfe of the chiefe Cittie of the Kingdome which Giouanni refused to do saying he would first spoile all the countrey and then it would be more easie to surprize
the Cittie which was the cause he failed to performe that enterprise for he knew not that the parts do more willingly follow the head then the head doth follow them After this ouerthrow the King Ferrando being fled into Naples thither resorted vnto him diuerse of his subiects who were driuen from their countreys then by all curteous meanes he leuied men and money to make a new Camp sending againe for aide to the Pope and Duke From the one and the other of whome he was aided more speedily and abundantly then before time he had bene bicause they greatly feared he should otherwise lose his Kingdome King Ferrando in this sort growne strong marched out of Naples and hauing gotten some reputation recouered also part of his lost townes During these warres in the Kingdome a chance happened that vtterly depriued Giouanni de Angio of reputation and meane to haue victorie in that enterprise The Genouesi being wearie of the French insolent and couetous gouernment tooke armes against the Kings Gouernour there and forced him to flee to the little Castle of Genoua The Fregosi and the Adorni were content to ioyne in that action and by the Duke of Milan they became furnished of money and men both for the winning and keeping the Cittie So that the King Rinato with his nauie came to the succour of his sonne and hoping to recouer Genoua by meane of the small Castle in landing his souldiers was ouerthrowne and forced with shame to returne vnto Prouenza These newes being carried to the Kingdome of Naples greatly dismaied Giouanni de Angio notwithstanding he still followed his enterprise and continued the warre being serued by those Barons who were rebelled and could not looke for fauour of Ferrando In the end after many accidents those two royall armies ioyned battell wherein neare vnto the Cittie of Troia Giouanni was vanquished the yeare 1463. This ouerthrow did not so much hinder the successe of the King Giouanni as did the reuolt of Giacopo Piccinino who left him and ioyned with King Ferrando whereby being spoiled of his forces he retired into Histria and from thence to Fraunce This warre continued foure yeares and was in the end lost by his owne negligence for it was many times in good way of victorie by the vertue of his souldiers Therein the Florentines intermedled not apparantly yet were they desired by Embassadors of the King Giouanni of Arragon newly come to that Kingdome by the death of Alfonso to assist the enterprise of Ferrando his nephew as they had bound themselues by the league lately made with Alfonso his father To whome by the Florentines it was answered that they were not by any obligation bound to aide the sonne in that warre which was begun by the father for as the same had bene without their counsell or knowledge taken in hand so without their assistance it should be performed and ended The Embassadors being thus to the request of their King answered protested the execution of their band and the Kings preiudice so in great displeasure with that Cittie departed The Florentines during these warres continued in peace abroad but within they rested not as in the next Booke shall be particulerly declared The ende of the sixt Booke THE SEVENTH BOOKE TO those that haue read the former Booke it may seeme in writing of Florence and the proceedings of the Florentines we haue ouermuch spoken of such accidents as hapned in Lombardy and the Kingdome Neuerthelesse as heretofore I haue so am I hereafter to continue with the like discourses For albeit I did not promise to write of matters concerning Italy yet haue I thought good to speake of those that were in that countrey most notable For if I should not make mention of them our historie would be with more difficultie vnderstood and to the Readers lesse pleasing Chiefely bicause the actions of other people and Princes of Italy did occasion the warres wherein the Florentines were forced to intermeddle as of the warre of Giouanni de Angio and King Ferrando great enimitie grew which was after betwixt Ferrando and the Florentines and particulerly with the house of Medici continued For the King complained that the Florentines did not onely leaue him in that warre vnaided but also that his enemies were by them fauoured which anger was the occasion of exceeding many inconuenients as shall be hereafter declared And for as much as I haue written at large those matters which happened without the Cittie till the yeare 1463. it behoueth me for the declaration of such troubles as happened in those daies within to looke back many yeares passed Yet first by way of discourse as is my custome I say that whosoeuer doth thinke that any Common-weale can continue vnited he greatlie deceiueth himselfe But true it is that some diuisions be preiudiciall to Common-weales and some others be profitable Those be preiudiciall which are with factions and followers accompanied And those are profitable which without factions and followers bee mainteined Seeing then it is a thing impossible for that man who frameth a Common-weale to prouide that no enimitie shall therein arise he ought at the least foresee that no factions be permitted It is then to be considered that the Citizens in euerie state do win reputation either by publike or priuate meanes Publike reputation is gotten by victorie in the field by surprizing of townes by wise and discreet performing of Embassages or by counsailing the State grauely and fortunately By priuate meanes men attain to reputatiō by pleasuring particuler citizēs by sauing them frō punishments by relieuing them with money by aduancing thē vnworthily to honors and offices and by enterteining the common people with sports publike gifts From these causes faction following and partaking do proceed And as reputation thus gotten is hurtful so the other not being intermedled with faction is the occasion of great good bicause it is grounded vpon no priuate but common commoditie And albeit among such Citizens so great displeasures wil grow as the wisdome of man is not able to preuēt yet wāting partakers to follow thē for proper profit they cannot by any way hinder the common-weale but shal rather help it for in aspiring to that they would come vnto it behoueth them to indeuor the aduancement of the state and particularly one to respect the other so much as the lawes ciuil orders be not infringed The enimities of Florēce were alwaies followed with factions and therfore hurtfull to the state neither was any victorious faction longer vnited then the contrary part continued in force for so soone as the enemies were extinguished the faction remaining no more in awe of the enemy nor hauing order to bridle it selfe became diuided The faction of Cosimo de Medici in the yeare 1434. remained with victorie Neuerthelesse bicause the partie oppressed was stil great and full of mightie men it continued vnited and tollerable so long as among those of the factiō no error was cōmitted and the people
but the nobilitie thereof would not consent to the pope resoluing to yeelde their obedience to Tancredi At that time Celestino tertio was pope who desirous to take the kingdome from Tancredi sought meanes that Enrico sonne of Federigo should be made Emperour and promised him the kingdome of Naples vpon condition that he should restore vnto the church all those townes thereunto belonging And to make that action the more easie hee tooke out of a monastery Gostanza an olde woman daughter of Gulielmo and married her vnto Federigo Thus passed the kingdome of Naples to the Germaines from the Normands who were the auncient founders thereof So soone as Enrico the Emperour had setled all thinges in Germany hee came into Italy accompanied with Gostanza his wife and his sonne but foure yeares old called Federigo Where with some difficultie because Tancredi was dead leauing onely a litle sonne called Rogeri he possessed the kingdom Within a small time after in Sicilia died Enrico to whome Federigo succeeded in the kingdome and to the Empire was elected Ottone Duke of Sassonia through fauour of pope Innocentio quarto But so soone as he was crowned Emperour contrary to all expectation hee became enemie to the pope surprised Romagna and prepared to assault the kingdome For which dooing the pope did excommunicate him all other men left him and the electors created Federigo king of Napoli Then came Federigo to Rome for the crowne but the pope fearing his greatnesse denied him and sought to remooue him out of Italy as hee had done before to Ottone Therewith Federigo offended went into Germany and made much vvarre against Ottone and at length ouerthrevv him In the meane vvhile died Innocentio vvho besides other his notable vvorkes builded the Hospitall of Santo spirito in Rome After him succeeded Honorio tertio in vvhose time beganne the orders of Santo Dominico and Francisco the yeare 1218. This pope crovvned Federigo vnto vvhome Giouanni descended of Bauldouino king of Ierusalem vvho vvith the remaine of the Christians in Asia still possessed that title gaue his kingdome to his daughter in marriage Hereof it commeth that vvho so euer is King of Napoli is also intituled king of Ierusalem Italy in those dayes vvas thus gouerned The Romaynes made no more Consuls in Rome but in steed of them they created with the same authoritie sometimes one sometime more Senators The league which the cities of Lombardy had made against Federigo Barbarossa still continued The Cities confedered against the Emperour were Milano Brescia Mantoua with the greater part of Romagna and with them Verona Vicenza Padoua and Treuigi On the Emperours part were Cremona Bargamo Parma Reggio Modena Trento The other Cities and Castles of Lombardy Romagna and La Marca Treuigiana according to their necessitie fauoured somtimes the one and sometimes the other part In the time of Ottone the third came into Italy a man called Ezelino of whom remained one sonne who likewise begot an other Ezelino he being rich mightie folowed Federigo the secōd who was as hath bene before said enemy to the Pope This Emperour brought into Italy by the fauour of Ezelino tooke Verona and Mantoua razed Vicenza surprized Padoua vanquished the army of the townes confederate in the end marched towards Toscana Ezelino in the meane time surprized La Marca Triuigiana but he could not take Ferrara being defended by Azone of Este other soldiers sent by the Pope frō Lombardy The siege then leuied the Pope gaue that citie in Feudo to Azone of Este of whome be descended all those princes that till this day haue there gouerned Federigo staied at Pisa being desirous to become Lord of Toscana the rather to possesse the same discouer those that fauoured him from the other that were his enemies practised diuision among the people of the country which was afterwards the ruine of all Italy Because then the factions of Guelfi Ghibellini encreased calling them Guelfi that followed the Pope and Ghibellini that followed the Emperour In Pistoia these names of faction were first begun Federigo leauing Pisa by many meanes assaulted spoiled the townes belonging to the church Insomuch that the Pope not hauing other remedie proclaimed his Crociata against him as did his predecessours against the Saraseni Federigo then fearing to be abandoned by his souldiers as Federigo Barbarossa and other Emperours had bene enterteined great numbers of Sarasins and to make them more willing to serue knowing that they feared not the Popes curses he gaue them the citie of Nocera in the kingdome perswading himselfe that they hauing that refuge might serue him with the more securitie Innocentio quarto became Pope and mistrusting Federigo went to Genoua and from thence into France and called a Councell at the citie of Lions Whereunto Federigo determined to goe but was withholden by the rebellion of Parma from which enterprise repulsed he went into Toscana and thence into Sicilia where he died leauing in Sucuia his eldest sonne Corrado and in Puglia his other sonne being base borne called Manfredi whome hee had made Duke of Beneuento Corrado beeing come for possession of the kingdome arriued at Napoli and there died leauing one litle sonne called Curradino who at that time remained in Germany Then Manfredi first as gouernour to Curradino and after reporting that Curradino was dead against the Popes will the Neapolitans also whom he forced to consent made himselfe king During these troubles in the kingdome happened many quarrels betweene the factions of Guelfi and Ghibilini the one being fauoured by the Popes Legate and the other by Ezelino who possessed welneare all Lombardy on the other side of the riuer Po. And because in this warre the citie of Padoua rebelled Ezelino put to death twelue thousand Cittizens thereof and he himselfe before the end of the warre being then thirtie yeares of age was slaine After his death all the townes by him possessed became free Manfredi king of Napoli according to the custome of his auncestors continued enemie to the church holding the Pope called Vrbano quarto in continuall distresse in so much as the Pope proclaymed the Crociata against him which done hee went vnto Perugia where hee remained aspecting his souldiers Who comming thither slowly and in small numbers thought that to vanquish Manfredi those forces were not sufficient He therefore praied aide in France of Carlo Duke of Angio brother to king Lodouico creating him king of Sicilia and Napoli desiring him to come into Italy take possession of those kingdomes But before Carlo could come to Rome that Pope died and Clemente quarto elected In whose time Carlo with thirtie gallies came to Ostia appointing the rest of his army to march thither by land During his aboad in Rome the Romanes to honour him made him a Senator of Rome and the Pope inuested him in the kingdome with condition he should paie yearely fiftie thousand florines to the
assemble more forces returned with thē into Italy had though hardly the victorie and then though with displeasure of the Legate returned to Bohemia leauing onely Reggio and Modena manned recommending Parma to Marsilio and Piero de Rossi who were in that citie of most power He being gone Bologna reuolted to the league and diuided among them foure Citties apperteining to the church allotting Parma to the house of Scala Reggio to Gonzaga Modena to Este and Lucca to the Florentines During the conquest of these Cities grew great warres but they were chiefly by the Venetians compounded It may perhaps be thought strange that among so many accidents of Italy I haue omitted to speake of the Venetians common weale being for the order and power thereof to be preferred before euerie other principallitie To satisfie that admiration the cause thereof being knowne I wil looke backward to time long since passed and declare what beginning that Cittie had King Attila at such time as he besieged Aquilegia the inhabitants of that towne hauing long defended themselues dispairing fled with their goods to the rocks within the point of Mare Adriatico The Padouani seeing the fire at hand and fearing that Aquilegia being wonne Attila would assault them carried all their moueables of most value into the same sea to a place there called Riuoalto whither they also sent their wiues children and aged men leauing the youth to defend the citie Aquilegia being taken Attila defaced Padoua Monselice Vicenza and Verona The Padouani and the chiefe of the others seated themselues in the marishes about Riuoalto Likewise all the people of that prouince which vvas aunciently called Venetia vvere driuen out by the same misfortune did also flie thither Thus constrained by necessitie they abandoned faire and fertile countries to inhabit these steril and paludious places void of all cōmoditie And yet because great numbers of people were at one instant come thither they made that place not onely habitable but also pleasant ordeining among themselues lawes and orders which amidst so great ruines of Italy they obserued and within short space encreased in force and reputation For besides the inhabitants aforesaid many of the cities of Lombardy chiefly those that feared the cruelty of their king Clefi fled thither which was no small encrease to that citie So that in the time of Pipino king of France when at the request of the Pope he came to driue the Lombardi out of Italy it was agreed in Capitulations betwixt him and the Emperour of Grecia that the Duke of Beneuento and the Venetians should be subiects neither to the one nor the other but among themselues enioy libertie Moreouer considering that as necessitie had driuen them to dwell within the water so it behoued them without helpe of the firme land to seeke meanes wherby they might procure their own liuelihood For which purpose they made ships gallies with them sailed throughout the world and filled their citie with sundry sorts of marchandise whereof other men hauing necessitie required free accesse vnto them At that time and many yeares after the Venetians thought not vppon other dominions then those where the traffique of their marchandise might safely arriue Then they wan diuers hauens in Grecia Soria and in the passages that the French men made in Asia because they oftentimes imploying the Venetian shippes appointed vnto them as a reward the Ile of Candia While in this estate and order they liued their name by sea was terrible and vpon the firme land of Italy venerable So that in all controuersies that happened they were for the most part arbitrators as in cōtrouersies which rose in the league by reason of those cities which they had diuided amongst them For that controuersie being recommended to the Venetians they ordered that Bargamo Brescia should appertaine to the Visconti But in processe of time hauing conquered Padoua Vicenza Triuigi Verona Bargamo Brescia with diuerse cities in the kingdom and Romagna entised with desire of gouernment they atteined so great an opinion of power and reputatiō that not only of the princes of Italy but also of the kings beyōd the mountaines they became feared Wherupon those princes conspiring togither tooke from them in one day all the states and countries vvhich they in many yeares and vvith infinite expences had gained And though in these late times they haue recouered part yet not recouering their forces and reputation do like all other princes of Italy remaine at the deuotion and discretion of others Now was Benedetto 12. come to the Papacy who seeing himselfe driuen out of Italy and fearing that the Emperour Lodouico should become Lord thereof determined to make all those his friends who had vsurped the townes which the Emperour possessed To the end that thereby they should haue cause to feare the Empire and ioyne with him in the defence of Italy For the more assurance of this attempt he made a decree that all tyrants of Lombardy should by iust title possesse the townes by them vsurped But the Pope presently vpon this grant died and Clemente sexto elected in his place The Emperour then seeing with what liberalitie the Pope had giuen the towns belōging to the Empire determined to be no lesse liberall of the Popes goods then the Pope had bene of his and therefore gaue freely all lands belonging to the church which any tyrant had vsurped and they to hold them by authoritie imperiall By meane whereof Galiotto Malatesti and his brethren became Lords of Rimino Pesaro Fano Anthonio di Montefeltro of la Marca and Vrbin Gentile da Varano of Camerino Guido di Polenta of Rauenna Sinibaldo Ordalaffi of Furli and Cesena Giouanni Manfredi of Faenza Lodouico Alidosi of Imola Besides these many others possessed towns belōging to the church so as fevv remained out of the hands of one Prince or other vvhich vvas the cause that the Church till the comming of Alissandro 6. vvas holden dovvne vveake but he vvith the ruine of these Lords or their posteritie restored the same At such time as the Emperor made this grant he remained at Trento seemed as thogh he vvould passe from thence into Italy wherby grevv many warres in Lombardy by that occasiō the Visconti became Lords of Parma Then died king Robarto of Napoli of vvhom remained only tvvo grand children vvomen begotten by Carlo his Son vvho long before vvas dead bequeathing his kingdom to the elder of them called Giouanna vvhom he vvilled to marrie vvith Andrea sonne to the K. of Vngaria his nephevv This Andrea continued not long her husband but vvas by her murdred she married anevv to a brother in lavv of his called Lodouico prince of Tarranto But K. Lodouico brother to Andrea to reuenge his death came vvith Forces into Italy draue the Q. Giouanna vvith her husband out of the kingdom About this time hapned in Rome a thing very memorable vvhich vvas that one called
neither was this gouernment lesse iniurious towards the Citizens nor more mild then was that of the multitude For so many of the populer Nobilitie were confined as had bene noted to be defenders thereof togither with a great number of the principall men of the multitude And among them Michele Lando whose former authoritie and good deserts could not in this time of populer furie saue him His country therfore for many good merits was to him vnthankfull Into which errour because many Princes and Common weales do fall is the cause that men vppon like examples terrified before they feele the smart of their gournours ingratitude do first offend them These exilements these slaughters did displease and euer had displeased Benedetto Alberti and he both publiquely and priuately blamed them For which cause the Lords of the state feared him as chiefe friend to the multitude and thought him consenting to the death of Georgio Scali not because his doings did offend him but to be alone in the gouernment Besides that his words and workes did encrease the suspition which made that side which gouerned to keepe eye vpon him and watch opportunitie to oppresse him The citie liuing in these tearmes the actions abroad were of no great importance For if any thing were done it proceeded of feare by reason that Lodouico di Angio came then into Italy to restore the kingdome of Napoli to the Quene Giouanna and remooue Carlo Durazzo The passage of this Prince greatly amazed the Florentines for Carlo according to the custome of old friends demaunded of them aide Lodouico like vnto him that seeketh new friends desired them to stand neutrall Whereupon the Florentines to seeme willing to content Lodouico and aide Carlo discharged Giouanni Aguto and procured Pope Vrbano to entertaine him which subtiltie was easily by Lodouico discouered and for the same held himselfe much iniured by the Florentines During the warre betwixt Lodouico and Carlo in Puglia new forces came from France in the fauoure of Lodouico who arriued in Toscana were by the banished men of Arezzo brought into that citie where they remoued the faction which gouerned for Carlo intending also to haue chaunged the state of Florence as they had altered Arezzo Then died Lodouico wherby the affaires of Puglia Toscana varied Fortune For Carlo assured himselfe on the kingdome which was well neare lost And the Florentines mistrusting the defence of Florence recouered Arezzo and bought it of those souldiers which kept it for Lodouico Carlo then being assured of Puglia went to take possession of Hungheria which was by inheritance descended vnto him leauing his wife in Puglia with Ladislao and Giouanna his children being but babes as hereafter shall be declared Carlo possessed Hungheria but shortly after there died For this conquest much tryumph was made in Florence and the magnificence thereof was no lesse both for publique and priuate expence then if the occasion therof had bene their owne For many families kept open feasts and the house of Alberti for pompe and magnificence exceeded the rest The expences charge of Armour that the Alberti vsed were not onely fit for priuate persons of the best degree but for the greatest Princes which gained them no small enuie Whereto adding the suspition which the state had of Benedetto was the cause of his ruine because those that gouerned could not endure him fearing euerie houre it might come to passe that through fauoure of his faction hee might recouer reputation and driue them from the citie These doubts remaining it happened that he being Gonfaloniere of companies Philippo Malagotti his sonne in lawe was chosen Gonfaloniere di Giustitia which doubled the mistrust of the Gouernours imagining that Benedetto encreased ouer fast in force and the state thereby in much perill For preuention of which inconueniences without tumult they encouraged Bese Magalotti his companion to signifie to the Senate that Philippo hauing passed his turne could not nor ought not exercise that office The cause was by the Senate examined some of them for hate some to take away occasion of slander iudged Philippo not capable of that dignitie and elected in his place Bardo Mancini a man to the plebeyan faction contrarie and mortall enemie to Benedetto In so much as hee beeing placed in office called a Balia for reformation of the state and therein confined Benedetto Alberti and admonished the rest of that family onely Antonio Alberti excepted Benedetto being readie to depart called vnto him all his friendes and seeing them sad said you see my good fathers and Lords in what sort Fortune hath oppressed me and threatned you whereof I maruell not neither ought you to maruell Because it euer commeth to passe that who so euer will be good among many euil or doth seek to hold vp that which many labour to pull downe must of force perish The loue of my Countrey made me to ioyne with Saluestro di Medici and after to depart from Georgio Scali The same did likewise perswade me to hate the maners of those that now gouerne who as they haue not had any to punish them so do they desire that none should finde fault with them For my part I am content with my banishment to acquite them of that feare which they had not of me onely but of euerie other man that knoweth their tyrannous and wicked dealings My punishment therefore doth threaten others of my selfe I take no pitie for those honors which my country being free hath giuen me now brought vnto seruitude cannot take from mee And the memorie of my passed life shall alwaies more comfort mee then mine hard fortune which brought mine exile shall discourage me It greeueth me much that my country should become a spoile for a fewe and be subiect to their pride and couetousnesse I am also right sorie to thinke that those euils which now ende in me will begin in you And I feare least those miseries wil persecute you with more hinderance then they haue persecuted me I would therefore counsell you to prepare your mindes against all misfortunes and beare your selues so as what aduersitie so euer happen for many will happen euery man may know you are faultlesse that without your guilt they be hapned After this leaue taken to giue as great a testimonie of his bountie abroad as hee had done in Florence he trauelled to the Sepulchre of Christ from whence returning in the Ile of Roda hee died His boanes were brought to Florence and therewith great honour buried by those who in his life with all slaunder and iniurie did molest him During these troubles the house of Alberti was not onely oppressed but many other Citizens also admonished and confined Among whom were Piero Benini Mattheo Alderotti Giouanni and Francesco del Bene Giouanni Benci Andrea Adimari and with them a great number of the lesse mysteries Among the admonished were the Couoni the Benini the Rinucci the Formiconi the Corbozi the
the end it wrought an effect contrarie to the Venetians expectation Bicause Lodouico in respect of this iniurie was content to allow of that which before he would not And therefore leauing the Marquesse of Farrara to the defence of his owne countrey he with foure thousand horse and two thousand footmen and the Duke of Calauria with twelue thousand horse and fiue thousand footmen entred the countrey of Pergamo Brescia and Verona spoiling almost all the countrey belonging to those three Citties before the Venetians knew thereof for the Lord Roberto with his souldiers could scarcely defend that Cittie On the other side the Marquesse of Farrara had recouered a great part of his possessions by meane whereof the Duke of the Rhene who came against him was not able to make head hauing onely two thousand horse and one thousand footemen Thus all that summer in the yeare 1483. the League proceeded in their warres most prosperouslie The next Spring being come for in all the winter was nothing done the armies were againe brought to the field and the League to the end it might the more speedily oppresse the Venetians had ioined all the whole army togither but if they had proceeded as they did the yeare before they should assuredly haue taken from the Venetians all the lands in Lombardy to them belonging for they had not left vnto them more then sixe thousand horse and fiue thousand footmen And on the other side were twelue thousand horse and sixe thousand footmen Also the Duke of the Rhene hauing ended the yeare of his enterteinement was returned home Notwithstanding as it often happeneth where diuerse Gouernours be of equall authoritie there groweth diuision and the enemie winneth victorie so Federigo Gonzaga Marquesse of Mantoua being dead who with his authoritie continued the Duke of Calauria and the Lord Lodouico vnited betwixt them grew diuersitie of opinions and ielousie For Giouangaliazzo Duke of Milan being atteined to age and abilitie to gouerne his owne state and hauing also married the daughter of the Duke of Calauria the Duke desired that his sonne in lawe and not Lodouico might gouerne the state This suspition of Lodouico being knowne to the Venetians was made by them an occasion supposing they might as they had euer done recouer by peace that which they had lost by warre and secretly they practised a pacification betwixt them and Lodouico which was concluded in August the yeare 1484. That being knowne to the other confederates displeased them much chiefely when they knew that all the townes taken from the Venetians should be restored and they still to inioy also Rouigo and Policene which townes they had taken from the Marquesse of Farrara And moreouer that they should haue againe all those prerogatiues which in times passed they had Euerie man then thought they had made a warre with great charge and as therein they had gained small honor so in the end it was compounded with shame bicause the townes taken were restored and the townes lost were not recouered Yet were the confederates forced to accept the peace being wearie of charges and fearing the ambition and defects of others would make no more triall of their fortune While in Lombardy matters were in this manner handled the Pope by meane of Lorenzo besieged the Cittie of Castello to driue from thence Nicholo Vitelli who to drawe the Pope into the league had forsaken him In this siege those that within the towne were partarkers with Nicholo came forth to fight with the enemies and did vanquish them whereupon the Pope reuoked the Earle Girolamo from Lombardy to repaire his force at Rome that done to returne to his enterprise But afterwards thinking it better to gaine the good will of Nicholo by peace then to assaile him with a new warre grew to agreement with him and by all meanes reconciled him to Lorenzo his aduersarie whereupon he was allured rather by suspition of new tumults then by the loue he bare his countrey For betwixt the Colonnesi and Orsini there appeared much displeasure bicause the King of Naples in the warre betwixt him and the Pope had taken from Orsini the Earledome of Tagliacozzo and giuen it to the Colonnesi his followers Afterwards the peace being made betwixt the King and the Pope the Orsini by vertue thereof demaunded restitution The Pope often signified to the Colonnesi that they ought to make restitution but they neither at the intreatie of the Orsini nor for the threatning of the Pope would agree thereunto but still with iniuries and spoiling of the Orsini did displeasure them which the Pope could not indure and therefore assembled all his forces and ioyning with them the Orsini sacked all the houses of the Colonni in Rome slaying and taking all those that made resistance and razing the most part of all their Castles so that those tumults were ended not by peace but by oppressing one of the parties Also Genoua and Toscana were somewhat disquieted for the Florentines did keepe the Earle Antonio de Marciano with his souldiers vpon the confines of Serezana who during the warre of Lombardy with foraging and small skirmishes molested the Serezanesi And in Genoua Battistino Fregoso Duke of that Cittie trusting vnto Pagolo Frigoso Archbishop was by him taken with his wife and children and the Archbishop made Duke Likewise the Venetian nauie had assaulted the Kingdome surprized Galipoli and molested other places thereabouts But the peace of Lombardy concluded all tumults did cease saue onely in Toscana and Rome for the Pope within fiue daies after the peace was proclaimed died either bicause the end of his life was come or for sorrow that a peace was made to his disaduantage This Pope at his death left Italy in peace though during his life he had alwaies therein made warre and the Romanes presentlie after his departure tooke armes The Earle Girolamo with his souldiers retired vnder the Castle and the Orsini did feare least the Colonnesi would be reuenged of the fresh iniuries done them Then the Colonnesi demaunded againe their houses and Castles Vpon these occasions within few daies there followed many murthers robberies and burnings in diuerse parts of the Cittie But the Cardinals hauing perswaded the Earle to yeeld that Castle vnto the College and returne home to his owne land and also remoue his souldiers out of Rome he being desirous to gratifie the next Pope gaue vp the Castle to the College and went himselfe vnto Imola Whereupon the Cardinals deliuered of this feare and the Barons out of hope to be aided by the Earle in their quarrels went to the creation of a new Pope After some disputation and diuersitie of opinions Giouanbattista Cibo borne in Genoua and Cardinall of Malfetta was chosen Pope by the name of Innocentio octauo He through the curtesie of his nature being a quiet and peaceable man procured all armes to be laid downe and for the present pacified Rome The Florentines after the peace could not content themselues with rest