to thyself it would be a great joy to me, but if troublesome and
fatiguing to thee, do not come. I am glad Bianca Maria has recovered;
how I pray to God that she may continue well as thou, I, and her
husband desire, I leave thee to imagine. To Mona Nanna and to Filippo
I have given greetings and they commend themselves to thee and to all;
commend me to Cosimo, to Mona Contessina, Mona Ginevra, and Giovanni,
and salute Pier Francesco and kiss Bianca Maria from me. Christ guard
us.--In Petriolo, May 17, 1446.
If without trouble and it pleases thee, thou canst spare Franceschino
for the remaining time I am here, I should be very glad, as he is most
useful to me in this place, but whatever pleases thee pleases me.[50]
✕ Al nome di Dio.
Domine et maggiore mio, ieri ebbi una tua per quella m’avisi del
governo mio intorno a fatti del bangno ero diliberato far tanto quanto
m’avisi per la letera tua et quanto per maestro Giovanni mi sarà
ricordato et non mi parà faticha ne disagio niuna chosa per la santa
la quale credo, gratia di dio, che n’arà a seguire per modo che credo
che tutti ne sarete ben chontenti.
Vego ti se’ purgato et vaitene in villa che mi piace et chonfortoti a
stare sano et non ti dare manichonia che tornerò guarita. Al maestro
Giovanni faremo onore e buona chonpagnia perchè ’llo merita.
La venuta tua se sarà con achoncio et chontentamento di te l’arò molto
charo, ma sendoti disagio et schoncio son chontetta la lasci istare,
piacemi la Bianca Maria si sia rifatta et chosì priego idio perseveri
come il chontentamento vostro e il mio e del marito, lacerò pensare a
te, a Maria Nanna et a Filippo ho fatte le salutatione e rachomandasi
a te e a tutti voi e rachomandami a Chosimo e mona Ginevra e Giovanni
e saluta Pier Francesco e bacia la Bianca Maria per mia parte. Ne’
altro per ora. Xpo ci guardi in Petriuolo.
Se si può con tuo chontentamento et achoncio per questo resto del
tempo lascianci Francescino l’are molto charo perche eè utile ai
bisogni mia in questo luocho nondimeno ogmni tuo chontentamento eè mio.
per la tua Lucretia,
ti si rachomanda.[51]
[Illustration]
Contessina de’ Medici _to her son_ Piero _at Trebbio_
I send thee a quarter of a roe, a hare and a kid, so shall not send
any veal. I understand thy letter and also trust that God will bestow
this grace upon us, and I send thee capers. Giovanni[52] wanted to
go at all hazards to-day to see Lucrezia and the children: he says
too that he has hardly seen thee. With difficulty I prevented him so
that he might not be over-tired. Tell Lucrezia that the child’s frock
shall be re-lined and she shall have it on Monday, and that she must
encourage the baby to suck and have a care of all the children. Cosimo
is well: this morning his knee pained him a little, a touch of the
gout; but it will soon pass, as it is but a slight thing. If Lucrezia
or thou shouldst want anything let me know. No more. Christ guard
thee.--In Florence on the 6th day of February 1449 (1450).
Mona Contessina in Florence.[53]
Contessina de’ Medici _to her son_ Giovanni _in Rome_
Most dear Son,--As there was no need I have not written since thy
departure. Now it seems to me necessary, because we hear the plague
is causing many deaths, even among the well-to-do. I must beg thee
for God’s sake and for the sake of the love I bear thee to return as
soon as thou canst. Thou knowest how anxious Cosimo and I are about
thy stay in Rome; thy brother also is anxious. Had Cosimo known that
plague was there he would never have let thee go. Cosimo has perpetual
fever as he had when thou didst leave him, and these doctors call
gout fever, and have done so for some time as thou knowest, and one
can never be sure what may happen from one day to another. Therefore
I beseech thee to return as quickly as thou canst, for thou art well
aware how much he has to do. More I will not write to-day. Piero and
his family have gone to Careggi because he also has fever. Tell me how
thy ailment is? I will add no more.--In Florence 24th February 1449
(1450). From thy
Mona Contessina di’ Cosimo.[54]
Cosimo de’ Medici _to_ Giovanni _his son in Rome_
With my own hand I wrote thee a letter on the 21st: since then I
have had two letters from thee announcing thy safe arrival, and that
thou art trying to obtain the indulgences in order to come away. I
advise thee to do so with all possible speed, for although thou sayest
that the death of the Bishop of Volterra has not changed matters,
other letters I have seen declare the contrary; a prolonged stay is
therefore not advisable.
The affectionate manner in which our Holy Father received thee, and
what thou sayest as to the love he bears us, is most grateful to me. I
see by his reply that thou hast told him what I said, that we are not
idle and will do all we can to persuade them to follow the counsels
of His Holiness. But it will be difficult, because if either party
thinks to gain anything he will not abide by the agreement. What the
Venetians want and what the Count wants is of such importance to them
that nothing else will be regarded as of any moment. We have sent
Messer A. and are leaving no means untried to reconcile them, as we
know how important it is to our city.
Messer Agniolo Simonetto and Messer N. Arimboldi sent to the King by
the Count with powers to sign the compact will have arrived; I know
not what is thought of it there, but we shall soon hear the truth.
From Lombardy letters have come from the Count of the 19th, dated
from Vimercato. He reports that with his whole force he is there and
at Melzi and Casciano and other places near by, and that Milan is
so surrounded that no supplies can enter. The Venetian troops are
encamped in the positions he held at first, and one sees that both
armies are suffering much discomfort. Any attempt to revictual Milan
must be made by ascending from the heights into the plain and passing
by the places held by the Count, when there would be fighting. They
say Milan is in dire straits. Other news there are none, and we
know not what is said there. Innocenzio Cotta has taken the town and
fortress of S. Calombano for the Count, which it seems is a place of
importance. Nothing more is said about our peace with the King, and to
my sorrow there is a coolness about sending ambassadors. Pray God it
may be for the best.
I see Messer Giovanni di Nerone is to have the bishopric of Volterra;
I hope he may do well. If Messer Carlo[55] gets the Parish Church[56]
I do not mind. I did not wish to ask for the canonry of Messer
Giovanni which is in the gift of the Consuls, as many citizens wanted
it. With this I send thee a letter from Messer Giovanni Migliorati
received to-day. Thou wilt see what he writes. If this be true, and
it can be had for Messer Carlo, it would be well. If thou thinkest it
might be of use, speak to His Holiness about it and try to obtain a
conditional promise, I would then let thee know at once if the event
occurs: for our Holy Father shows us such affection that it seems to
me unwise not to ask if one can get anything. No more at present.
Christ guard thee.--In Florence on the last day of February 1449
(1450).
Cosimo de’ Medici.[57]
Contessina de’ Medici _to_ Giovanni _her son at Volterra_
In the name of God on the 18th day of December 1450.
Yesterday I had a letter from thee. The things thou wantest shall
all be sent by the first man going to Volterra. Cosimo continues to
improve; he has not been very ill this time, although the fever has
not yet left him, but it is slight. Thy shoes were ready, but they
have made them black, so others must be made, and I will send them
by the first messenger. We have not yet heard of the arrival of our
party, but one who met them on the road says they were well: as soon
as I hear I will let thee know. Although I told thee we paid too much
for the pigs, I want thee to send us a pig or a roe for Christmas,
if they are offered to thee; if we have to buy them we will not have
them. Messer Rosello writes that he is coming to pass Christmas with
me, and has sent Cosimo a fine cloak of Polish fashion of marten and
sable, a pair of gloves, and the tooth of a fish a foot and a half
long. As we have to prepare for the festival of the Three Kings, they
will make a little change from my cloth of gold.
The plague affects us but little. For three days out of four during
the week no one mentions it, they are all people one does not know. I
should be so glad to know how thou art, and whether thou art better or
worse since thy departure. Thy return, when it takes place, will be a
great joy to me.
Antonio degl’ Strozzi has been to see me, and pestered me much about
that business: he wants to come here for Christmas, tell him what
thou thinkest; and so be he says that I promised him anything do not
believe it, for he could learn nothing from me: so be cautious how
thou dealest with him.
Tell the women I do not write because there is a dearth of writers
until Mateo returns from Rome, he ought to be here to-morrow. Salute
them from me, and say many things, and caress the children and kiss
them for love of me; if the women want anything I can send, tell me.
No more at present. God guard thee.
Mona Contessina in Florence.[58]
Contessina de’ Medici _to her son_ Giovanni _at Volterra_
In the name of God on the 3rd day of January 1450 (1451).
Most dear Son,---I only write this because for several days I have not
had a letter, and because I thought Antonio degl’ Strozzi was coming
back, and from him I might have heard news of thee. But Michele has
been here, and says that since Friday thou hast been expecting the
party from Rome. So I write to tell thee that it is impossible they
could arrive because they were expected at Siena that evening. By now
they ought to be with thee; if they are do not fail to tell us how
they fare, for Roberto wrote to Cosimo that they left last Friday. If
they come here we shall send thee word. No more at present. Christ
protect thee. Written in haste.
Mona Contessina in Florence.[59]
_The Same to the Same_
In the name of God on the 5th day of January 1450 (1451).
The other day I wrote to thee in haste, and have now heard of the
arrival of Piero and Pier Francesco.[60] God be praised. We shall be
much rejoiced if they have returned in good health: I hear Piero’s
foot has given him some trouble. I know not what thou hast decided
about staying or returning; if thou dost return here put all thy
belongings together in one place, so that if they are wanted thou
wilt not be obliged to ask those women to find them, and so drive
them crazy. I think Cosimo has written to thee about the strong box
he wants. Here the plague has ceased, and I am glad thou art coming
back; although it might be well to stay a little longer and see how
thy health goes, but thou canst always return there if necessary.
Tell me thy decision. I wrote the day before yesterday to ask thee to
search in the cupboard in my room there for a pair of scissors which
belong to Cosimo and to bring them, or they can be put into the strong
box. No more to-day. Salute Pier Francesco from me, and tell him he is
welcome back, and that I long to see him. Christ guard thee.
Mona Contessina in Florence.[61]
When, after the death of Visconti, Francesco Sforza had attained the
object of his ambition and become Duke of Milan in 1450, Cosimo sent
his eldest son Piero with Neri Capponi, Luca Pitti, and Diotisalvi
Neroni, to salute the new duke. “They proceeded in triumph,” writes
Cambi, “through the Milanese territory, and all their expenses were
paid. The number of horsemen was so great when they arrived within five
miles of Milan that it seemed like a manœuvring ground. Then the Duke
in person advanced to meet them, and embraced and kissed them. Never
was greater honour paid to Florentine ambassadors.”[62]
Piero de’ Medici was also one of the citizens deputed to meet the
Emperor Frederick III. on his entry into Florence in January 1451. He
dismounted at the church of S. Gallo, which had been magnificently
decorated with hangings of cloth of gold and silk. In his train was
the poor boy-King of Hungary, Bandilagho, as Cambi writes Ladislaus,
and many German princes and bishops, whose outlandish names are quite
beyond the old chronicler’s powers of spelling. “The Emperor seated
himself,” continues Cambi, “on a most splendid chair under the loggia
of the church, and all the gentlemen stood round him while the Ten
of the Balìa bent the knee before him on either side, representing
the Magnificent Signori. Messer Carlo d’Arezzo made a speech, to
which Monsignore Enea, Bishop of Siena [the celebrated Æneas Sylvius,
afterwards Pope Pius II.], replied in the name of the Emperor. Then the
Emperor mounted again, and the Ten of the Balìa took the bridle of his
horse, and in that manner they proceeded to the fore-port of the Porta
S. Gallo where the Magnificent Signori of Florence awaited him seated.
The Colleges had a fine banner with the Emperor’s arms, and when he
came under it the Signori rose and went to his bridle, which the Ten
abandoned. Mariotto Benvenuti, the Gonfalonier of Justice, took the
right side and Rosso Ridolfi took the left, the other Signori with all
the citizens following them, and thus they accompanied the Emperor to
S. Maria Novella where the Pope’s apartments had been prepared for him.
The magistrates were on foot, and the others who had gone out to meet
him were on horseback. It was, indeed, a splendid sight. Please God he
may recognise it, and be grateful for such honours which have been so
costly.”[63]
After the sack of Constantinople in 1453 Florence became the
headquarters of Greek men of learning. For fifteen years John
Argyropoulos “poured forth wisdom from his golden mouth,” and Demetrius
Chalcondyles, Johannes Andronicus Calistus, Constantius and Johannes
Lascari succeeded him. They gave a fresh impetus to the study of
Platonic philosophy as opposed to that of Aristotle; even the children
of the chief citizens spoke Greek with such case and purity that
Poliziano exclaims, “Athens has not been destroyed by the barbarians
but has migrated to Florence.” It was then that Cosimo determined to
found the celebrated Platonic Academy, and selected Marsilio Ficino,
the son of his physician, to preside over it, although he was little
more than a boy.
The sack of Lodi gave Cosimo’s opponents an opportunity to interfere
in home politics. Their first step in June 1454, on the pretext that
war was over, was to abolish the Balìa, which they imagined was the
mainstay of his authority. This, of course, was useless as long as
the Scrutiny made by the Balìa and the Accopiatori appointed by them
were still in office. In November, therefore, a new Scrutiny was made,
and in January 1455 the new Signory ordered that in six months’ time
the power of the Accopiatori should cease, and the Gonfalonier and
the Priors be once more chosen by lot. The measure was a popular one,
and it worked, not against Cosimo, but against Luca Pitti, Diotisalvi
Neroni, and Agnolo Acciaiuoli, as it put an end to their power of
manipulating the appointments to office. The disturbed condition
of Italy after the death of Pope Nicholas the peace-lover, and the
discharge by the Venetians of Jacopo Piccinino, whose standard became
the rallying-point for all discontented and dissatisfied men, reacted
upon Florence. A feeling of unrest was abroad. Many citizens considered
the Government weak and vacillating, and were only waiting for the
election of a Signory who shared their views to make an attempt to
“reform” the city. But without the consent of Neri Capponi this was
impossible. So things remained as they were until his death in 1457
left Cosimo with a free hand. The re-assessment of the _catasto_
early in 1458 was a heavy blow to his opponents, the new register
of property entailing upon them considerable loss. In their dismay
they turned to Cosimo, and suggested the creation of a new Balìa, a
new Scrutiny, and fresh Accopiatori, but he refused to listen to any
proposal for the renewal of the Balìa save in the usual way through
the Colleges and the Councils. When Luca Pitti became Gonfalonier of
Justice in 1458 he tried in vain to induce the Council to appoint a new
Balìa, and Girolamo Machiavelli, a hot-headed republican who declared
against all Balìe as inimical to the freedom of the citizens, was
arrested and tortured with others who shared his views. Luca Pitti made
the most of this so-called conspiracy, and tried to set his authority
against that of Cosimo. Losing patience, Cosimo said to him: “You
strive towards the indefinite, I towards the definite. You plant your
ladder in the air, I place mine on the earth so that I may not climb
so high as to fall. It seems to me but just and natural that I should
desire the honour and reputation of my house to surpass yours. Let
us therefore do like two big dogs which sniff one at the other when
they meet, and then, both having teeth, separate and go their ways;
you to attend to your concerns, I to look after mine own.” Cosimo
then summoned a parliament. His position can be gauged by the advice
given to Duke Sforza by his Ambassador to Florence: “When you would
have one thing done rather than another, write your opinion or your
desire privately to Cosimo, and he will always arrange it for you.
Do not waste your time in saying, I would have their opinion, &c....
Popular governments are alien to and diverse from others, and Cosimo
cannot be for ever in the Palace as he once was.” Pope Pius II. also
declared, “Nothing is denied to Cosimo. He is the arbiter of peace and
of war, and the moderator of the laws. Not so much a private citizen
as the lord of the country. The policy of the Republic is discussed in
his house; he it is who gives commands to the magistrates. Nought of
royalty is wanting to him save the name and the state of a king.”
Contessina de’ Medici _to_ Ginevra, _wife of her son_ Giovanni, _at the
Baths of Petriolo_
Dearest Daughter,--In these days I received a letter from thee and
learn thou art well, which rejoices me. I see that thou art preparing
to return, it seems to me a thousand years. Piero is going there now,
so leave out the things he may need, and leave Florino and Giannello
and give over everything to them in case thou comest away before Piero
arrives; he will need a good many days for the cure of his eczema. The
curtains thou tookest away bring back to me here, for Mona Lucrezia
takes mine with her, and some slaves from here, so she will need no
other women. Thy boy is well and has cut two teeth, and I think will
get accustomed to these wet nurses in such a way ...[64] night and day
we see after him. It seems to me that having cut his teeth and the
evenings being warm he will do well. I say no more. May Christ guard
thee.--In Florence on the 10th day of April 1455.
Mona Contessina di Cosimo.[65]
Cosimo de’ Medici _to his son_ Giovanni _at Milan_
During the last days I have written thee several letters, but have
only had one from thee from Modena. We have heard of thy arrival at
Milan, and of the great honours paid thee by the Duke, at which I am
well pleased.
I expect to hear from thee how things passed.
As I told thee, and as I have written to thee, I do not at all desire
that thou shouldest go further in order to accompany the Duke of
Calabria. We should lose more here than we should gain there by this.
Thou hast already done quite enough by accompanying him hitherto,
without going any further, and next month thou must return here. No
more at present. Christ guard thee.--Florence, July 28, 1455.
Cosimo de’ Medici.[66]
Lucrezia de’ Medici (_from Careggi or Cafaggiuolo_) _to her husband_
Piero _at Florence_
This day I received thy letter, which is most dear to me as telling
how thou art. I see that by the grace of God riding has not been too
irksome to thee, of which I am glad. Mona Contessina told me the
same, and that thou hast been received with great demonstrations of
affection. Truly, as thou sayest, we have much to thank God for. So
I beg thee to bear gladly a little discomfort, for these things are
not accomplished without some fatigue. I see all the family is well,
which is a great consolation to hear, and I thank thee. I beg that,
as we are not coming there, thou wilt return as soon as thou canst,
for it seems to us a thousand years since we saw thee, particularly
to Giuliano. Lorenzo is learning the verses his master there gave
him and then teaches them to Giuliano. No more at present. Commend
me to Cosimo and to Mona Contessina. We are all well. Christ guard
thee.--28th February 1457 (1458).
Thy Lucrezia.[67]
The entry into Florence of Galeazzo Maria, Count of Pavia, son of
Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, is described in a curious poem written
in 1459 by an unknown author.[68] Leaving Cafaggiuolo, where the lad
slept, he entered Florence on 17th April 1459, and dismounted at the
Medici palace. Next day Messer Galeazzo visited the Signoria, who made
him sit in their midst and offered him their services. “I thank you for
your greeting,” answered the young Count, “and beg you to command me
and to dispose of all I possess. For you I will abandon any enterprise,
and serve you against any power.” Then with a prayer to God to grant
them happiness and long lives the lad of fifteen added: “I beg you to
pardon my youth if, from want of knowledge, I have not spoken aright
in your presence; remember I am but a boy. I commend you to Christ
our Lord.” From his letters to his father we get a glimpse of the home
life of Cosimo. He writes that even the ladies of the family helped to
entertain him, and he was charmed with the playing of one of Piero’s
daughters on the “organo di cave.” At a dinner at Careggi he notes
that Giovanni, Cosimo’s second son, did not sit at table, but acted as
a kind of steward, and saw that every one was properly served. After
dinner a poet improvised verses in honour of the guest. “Certes, Lucian
or Dante could have done no better,” he remarks. Then they danced,
Piero’s wife Lucrezia Tornabuoni, Giovanni’s Maria Ginevra degl’
Alessandri, and a daughter of the Strozzi, held to be the handsomest
maiden in Florence, and some peasant girls.
Two days later came Pope Pius II. on his way to the Congress he had
summoned at Mantua to arrange for another crusade. He was received
with great honour, and young Sforza made an oration, kneeling in the
dust before the Pope. Then Pius seated himself on a gestatory chair
and was borne into the city on the shoulders of the lords of Faenza,
Rimini, Carpi, and Forli, instead of riding on a mule, which was the
usual practice. “This,” observes Cambi, “was a proof of pride, not of
holiness.” The old chronicler then describes a tournament in the Piazza
S. Croce “for the temporal lords, but many ecclesiastics also went. And
on 29th April there was a ball in the Mercato Nuovo, which was enclosed
with a stockade surrounded by seats covered with tapestry. Sixty young
Florentine gentlemen, who were expert dancers, richly adorned with
pearls and jewels, and many pretty maidens and girls who were good
dancers, danced; and they changed their dresses several times. All the
ambassadors were there and some of the cardinals, and it was calculated
that in the seats, in the houses round, and on foot, there were more
than 60,000 persons. There was also a great hunt in the Piazza de’
Signori, which was closed all round with a stockade, and inside were
turned loose two lions, two horses, four bulls, two young buffaloes,
a cow and a calf, a wild boar, a giraffe, with twenty men and a large
ball of wood, so made that a man could stand upright inside and roll
it about in order to exasperate the animals. But the loud shouts of
the people so frightened the lions that they were as though stupefied,
many men broke into the enclosure and the lions were as lambs among
them. The preparations had been great, and the expense large, but the
pleasure given was small.”[69]
Contessina de’ Medici _to her son_ Piero _at Venice_