It appears to me that he is gradually sinking, and he thinks so
himself. On Tuesday evening he would have no one in his room save Mona
Contessina and myself. He began to recount all his past life, then he
touched upon the government of the city and then on its commerce, and
at last he spoke of the management of the private possessions of our
family and of what concerns you two; taking comfort that you had good
wits and bidding me educate you well so that you might be of help to
me. Two things he deplored. First, that he had not done as much as he
wished or could have accomplished; secondly, that he left me in such
poor health and with much irksome business. Then he said he would make
no will, not having made one whilst Giovanni was alive, seeing that
we were always united in true love, amity, and esteem, and when it
pleased God to so order it he desired to be buried without pomp or
show, and reminded me of his often expressed desire to be buried in S.
Lorenzo. All this he said with much method and prudence, and with a
courage that was marvellous to behold, adding that his life had been
a long one and that he was ready and content to depart whensoever it
pleased God. Yester morn he left his bed and caused himself to be
carefully dressed. The Priors of S. Marco, of S. Lorenzo, and of the
Badia of Fiesole were present. He made his confession to the Prior of
S. Lorenzo and then heard mass, and he spoke the responses as though
in perfect health. Then being asked the articles of faith he repeated
them word by word and made his confession and took the Holy Sacrament
with more devotion than can be described, having first asked pardon of
all present. These things have raised my courage and my hope in the
Almighty, although according to the flesh I am sorrowful, yet seeing
the greatness of his soul and how well disposed he is, I am in part
content that his end should be thus. Yesterday he was pretty well, and
also during the night, but on account of his great age I have small
hope of his recovery. Cause prayers to be said for him by the friars
of Il Bosco[84] and bestow alms as seems best to you, praying God to
leave him with us for a while, if such be for the best. And you, who
are young, take example and assume your share of care and trouble as
God has ordained, and being boys, make up your minds to be men; your
condition and the present case demanding that of you lads. Above all
take heed to everything that can add to your honour and be of use to
you, because the time has come when it is necessary that you should
rely on yourselves. Live in the fear of God and trust that all will
go well. Of what befalls Cosimo I will advise you. We are expecting a
doctor from Milan, but I have more hope in Almighty God than in aught
else. No more at present.--Careggi, the 26th July 1464.[85]
The following letter is undated, but as it refers chiefly to the
character of Cosimo de’ Medici, and to a certain extent describes him,
I have inserted it here.
Marsilio Ficino _to the noble_ Lorenzo de’ Medici
Even as harmony delights us more at the moment it strikes our ears
than when we remember tunes we have heard, and the actual sight of war
moves us more than any recital thereof, thus the great deeds of noble
and illustrious men animate our courage far more than the words of
orators and philosophers who dispute about valour. For it is ordered
by nature that things themselves should be more potent than their
names, and that real events should move the soul with greater force
than what is either false or may have happened. Therefore by imitating
the deeds of Socrates we are taught better how to attain courage
than by the art displayed by Aristotle in his writings on morality.
And Christ solely by His example has done more to make us adopt a
holy and virtuous way of life than all the orators and philosophers
that ever existed. Therefore, my Lorenzo, whilst I applaud you for
not despising the writings which teach morals, I beg you to prefer
learning from reality instead of from description, as you would
prefer a living thing from a dead. Particularly as you have decided
to emulate that aged man on whom our Senate bestowed the title of
Father of His Country. I mean the great Cosimo, your grandfather and
my lord. A man prudent above all men, pious towards God, just and most
charitable towards men, temperate in living, diligent in his care for
his family, and still more so in the affairs of the Republic; a most
honourable man who lived not only for himself, but for the good of
his country and his God; whose soul was as humble as any man’s, and
yet great and exalted. I, my Lorenzo, for more than twelve years gave
myself up to philosophy with him. He was as acute in reasoning as he
was prudent and strong in governing. Certainly I owe much to Plato,
but must confess that I owe no less to Cosimo. Inasmuch as Plato only
once showed me the Idea of courage, Cosimo showed it me every day.
For the moment I will not mention his other qualities. Cosimo was
as avaricious and careful of time as Midas of money; he spent his
days parsimoniously, carefully counting every hour and avariciously
saving every second; he often lamented the loss of hours. Finally,
having like Solon the philosophor (even when occupied in most serious
business) diligently studied philosophy, yet even till the last day
when he departed from this world of shadows to go to light he devoted
himself to the acquisition of knowledge. For when we had read together
Plato’s book dealing with the _Origin of the Universe_ and the _Summum
Bonum_ he, as you who were present well know, soon after quitted this
life as though he was really going to enjoy that happiness which he
had tasted during our conversations. Farewell, and as God fashioned
Cosimo according to the Idea of the world, do you continue as you have
begun to fashion yourself according to the Idea of Cosimo.
Marsilio Ficino.[86]
Brief Memorandum by Piero de’ Medici about his Father’s Death
I record that on the 1st August 1464, at the hour of 22-1/2, Cosimo di
Giovanni de’ Medici quitted this life, having been a great sufferer
from pains in his joints, although free from all other ills. Towards
the end of his life he was afflicted with suppression of urine, which
caused frequent fever. He was seventy-seven years of age, a tall,
handsome man, and healthy, save for the above-mentioned ills. Of great
prudence and still greater kindness, he was the most eminent and
the richest citizen our city had possessed for many years, and was
trusted and loved by the people above all other men. Indeed there is
no record of any citizen who died at that age who was so kind and so
famous, and was so universally mourned and with reason, for no man
ever had to complain of him, but many have been helped, and succoured,
and assisted, for his greatest pleasure lay in aiding others; not
only relations and friends, but strangers; and what is more difficult
to believe, and still more difficult to accomplish, those who were
unfriendly. By such praiseworthy actions he made many persons his
friends, who by their own fault or the fault of others had been his
enemies. He was liberal, charitable, and merciful, and gave many
alms during his life, not only in the city and the State, but in far
distant places for things pertaining to religion, rebuilding churches,
and giving for other worthy objects which had come under his notice.
He was highly esteemed and believed in by all the lords and princes in
and out of Italy. He filled all the greatest positions in our city,
all foreign ones he declined; but he joined in the most important and
honourable embassies sent by our Republic in his time. In the city
his commerce enriched many men, besides procuring a large fortune to
himself. He was not only a wise and cautious man of business, but a
lucky one. As has been said, he died on the aforesaid day in our house
at Careggi, after receiving all the sacraments of Holy Church with
the utmost devotion and reverence. He would not make a will, but left
everything in my hands. He was buried in the church of S. Lorenzo in
the earth, in the sepulchre ordered by him, without any honours or
pomp, as he would have none but the canons and priests of the said
church, the friars of S. Marco, and the canons regular of the Badia of
Fiesole, and neither more nor less wax torches than were used at an
ordinary funeral. This he ordered with his last breath; saying that
alms-giving and other good works ought to be performed while alive,
as he had done, and were then of more use. Notwithstanding I, wishing
to pay my filial debt to paternal piety, did what was requisite on
account of those who remained, ordering alms and masses, as follows
in this book.
_Note of the Funeral and of the Masses that are to be said in the
Church of S. Lorenzo and in other places for the Soul of Cosimo di
Giovanni de’ Medici, &c._
On the morning of August 2, which was Thursday, the funeral took place
in the church of S. Lorenzo; for wax we paid lire 43-1/2; for torches,
94 lbs. of candles for putting in the church, and 13 small torches to
be carried by the priests, in all 190-1/2 lbs., and for 16 torches of
97 lbs. for placing round the body.
_Note of the Masses and Offices celebrated for the Soul of Cosimo_
To the Chapter and priests of S. Lorenzo for an office lasting eight
consecutive days, beginning on August 3rd; with 30 masses for each
office, which make 8 offices, with 240 masses for the octave, we paid
16 lire for 6 torches of 33 lbs. and 10 lbs. of candles.
To the Chapter and priests of S. Lorenzo for an office beginning on
August 11th, and continuing for thirty consecutive days, finishing on
the 11th September, we paid 60 lire per torch of wax of 170 lbs.
Then follows a long list of members of the family, friends, dependants,
and slaves, each of whom had from 30 to 10 braccia each of black cloth
for the funeral; the women of the family had also black veils and
kerchiefs.
Besides the many offices celebrated in Florence for the soul of Cosimo,
the various Companies of Rome, Venice, Milan, Bruges, Geneva, London,
and Avignon celebrated a great many; and liberal alms were given, and
many prisoners were pardoned and set free from divers prisons.
_Memorandum of all the Men to whom was given Mourning for the said
Funeral_
Yds. Ins.
Pietro di Cosimo de’ Medici had dark clay cloth 8 29
Pier Francesco di Lorenzo had cloth 11 4
Lorenzo di Pietro di Cosimo had cloth and Giuliano 16 29
Messer Carlo di Cosimo, cloth 9 16
Niccodemo, Ducal Secretary, cloth 8 29
Messer Gentile di Giorgio, Florentine Canon, cloth 8 29
Maestro Mariotto di Niccolò, our doctor, cloth 8 29
Messer Bartolommeo Scala, Chancellor, cloth 8 29
Matteo di Ser Giovanni de’ Rossi, cloth 8 29
Fruosino d’Andrea da Panzano, cloth 8 29
Ser Francesco Cantansanchi, cloth 8 29
Ser Filippo di Cristofano, Piero’s Chancellor, cloth 8 29
Francesco di Giovanni Fracassini, Factor in Cafaggiuolo, cloth 6 1
Felice di Simone, Factor in Careggi, cloth 6 13
Piero di ..., Factor at Fiesole 6 13
Antonio di Meo Turco, Steward in Florence 6 13
Gugliemo di Francesco da Rovereto 6 13
Guasparri di Francesco da Vicchio 6 13
Piero di Domenico, surnamed Malerba 6 13
Prandino di Piero da Lodi 6 13
Matteo di ... da Vicchio, Barber 6 13
Giovanni di Giovanni, German 6 13
Piero d’Angiolino of Brieg, German 6 13
Donnino di Jacopo, who is in Cafaggiuolo. 6 13
Andrea di Piero from Vienna 6 13
_Memorandum of all the Women who received Mourning for the said funeral_
Yds. Ins.
Madonna Contessina, wife of Cosimo, had cloth, and
besides eight veils and two kerchiefs 20 8
Madonna Lucrezia, wife of Piero di Cosimo, cloth,
and besides two veils and one kerchief 8 29
Maria Nannina, daughter of Piero di Cosimo, cloth 8 29
Madonna Ginevra, wife of the late Giovanni di
Cosimo, cloth, and besides two veils and one
kerchief 8 29
Madonna Ginevra, wife of the late Lorenzo de’ Medici,
cloth, and besides two veils and one kerchief 8 29
Laudomine, wife of Pier Francesco de’ Medici, cloth,
and two veils and one kerchief 8 29
M. Lisabetta, wife of Sozo da Vernio, cloth, and two
veils and one kerchief 8 29
M. Luisa, wife of Alexandro da Vernio, cloth, and
two veils and one kerchief 8 29
M. Marta, wife of Gualtrotto da Vernio, cloth, and
two veils and one kerchief 8 29
_Maids_
M. Marta, widow of Stefano da Villa nuova 6 13
M. Maddalena di Giovanni di Benavenni 6 13
M. Maddalena, widow of Martino da Barberino 6 13
M. Maddalena, widow of Viviano da Cafaggiuolo 6 13
M. Bartola, widow of ----. 6 13
_Slaves_
Caterina 6 13
Crestina 6 13
Caterina 6 13
Tita 6 13
Cosimo de’ Medici died at Careggi on August 1, 1464. His family, as has
been said, respected his wish that he should be buried as a private
citizen, without any public and official pomp. His fellow-citizens
nevertheless resolved to commemorate in some special fashion the
decease of the real head of their State. A minute setting forth his
services was incorporated in the _Acta_ of the Ten, who also passed a
law declaring that he was to be afterwards known by the title of _Pater
Patriæ_, and appointed Donato Acciaiuoli to commend its adoption to the
people in a set oration. The law was adopted by acclamation, and Cosimo
is always known as Cosimo Pater Patriæ.
FOOTNOTES:
[4] _Le Istorie Fiorentine_, Niccolò Machiavelli, p. 240. Firenze, 1900.
[5] _Vita di Cosimo_, Vespasiano, p. 254. Symonds’ translation,
_Renaissance in Italy_, ii. 127. London, 1897.
[6] Ibid., ii. 228.
[7] Ginevra Cavalcanti, wife of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Cosimo’s brother,
and her son, Pier Francesco.
[8] Lorenzo de’ Medici, Cosimo’s brother.
[9] Crusaders returning to Italy brought with them medals with the
effigy of S. Helen. These were called Santelena, and gradually the name
was given to other medals.
[10] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza xi. No. 233.
[11] Letter is addressed on the outside of the sheet:
[spectab]ili viro Averardo de
[Medic]is Oratori florentinorum
[Ferrari] e fratri honorando.
(_Archivio Mediceo innanzi il Principato_, Filza 2, No. 306.)
[12] It is impossible even to guess at who “Ser P., the godfather,”
or “the godmother” are. As has been already mentioned, Cosimo often
alludes to people by nicknames or initials.
[13] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ii. No. 302.
[14] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza v. Avanzi, No. 9.
[15] Cosimo’s brother.
[16] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ii. No. 588-89.
[17] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ii. No. 612.
[18] Cosimo de’ Medici’s younger brother.
[19] _Magni Cosmi Medicei Vita_, Angelo Fabronio, ii. 28.
[20] Or Alberghettino, a small cell about eight feet by six, in the
tower of the Palazzo Vecchio.
[21] A castle near Cafaggiuolo.
[22] Cosimo’s oration is not in his diary, but is given by Fabroni,
_Magni Cosmi Medicei Vita_, Angelo Fabronio. Pisis, 1784, ii. 75.
[23] To frequent the Palace of the Signoria was esteemed in Florence
the sign of an intriguing politician. Giovanni had advised his sons “to
be chary of frequenting the Palace” (see p. 6).
[24] Eugenius IV. was a fugitive in Florence.
[25] _Le Istorie Fiorentine_, Niccolò Machiavelli, p. 220. Firenze,
1900.
[26] _Sermoni Evangelici_, Sacchetti, p. 94.
[27] A slave, Margherita, ten years of age, is thus described by her
owner Lapini: _Pellis ulivigne cum margine magno in testa apud cilium
sinistrum, margine in gena sinistra prope nasum, naso rincagnato,
aurichulis olim foratis, hodie reclusis, resaldatis_ (register of June
18, 1367). She cost twenty-nine golden florins. Another, Exilana, a
Tartar, is described as of: _Pellis ulivigne, cum margine in cornu
sinistra, parva, et alia margine in templa dextra, oculis quasi
suffornatis et litiginibus per faciem_ (register of April 1, 1389.)
Many are described as _bucterata vaiolo per totam faciem_, and only one
is _pulcra corpere_. In the bill of sale they are generally guaranteed,
_sana et integra omnibus suis membris tam occultis quam manifestis, et
specialiter a morba caduca_, which seems to show that the slaves were
subject to epilepsy.
[28] _Memoriale del Baldovinetti_, Cod. Cart. Magliabecchiana.
[29] _Lettere di una Gentildonna_, &c., p. 504.
[30] Most of the facts are taken from _Le Schiave Orientali a Firenze
nei Secoli XIV. e XV._, Saggio dì Agostino Zanelli. Firenze, 1885.
[31] Perhaps an abbreviation of Cornaro.
[32] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza xiv. No. 469.
[33] _Le Istorie Fiorentine_, N. Machiavelli, p. 242. Firenze, 1900.
[34] Alluding to the old proverb, _Fiorentini ciechi, Senesi matti,
Pisani traditori, Lucchesi signori_. Niccolò Fortebraccio, formerly
in the service of the Florentine Republic, was the great rival of
Francesco Sforza. These two condottieri had both seized on separate
portions of the Marches, and while Sforza’s fortress was Ancona, Assisi
was that of Fortebraccio. The two captains fought for the mastery in
the Marches, and in the end Fortebraccio was defeated and slain.
[35] _Cosmi Vita_, &c., _op. cit._ ii. 110 (Ex Filza 18).
[36] _Cosmi Vita_, &c., _op. cit._ ii. 133.
[37] _Cosmi Vita_, &c., _op. cit._ ii. 131.
[38] Ibid., ii. 126.
[39] _Cosmi Vita_, &c., _op. cit._ ii. 124.
[40] Ginevra Cavalcanti, wife of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Cosimo’s younger
brother.
[41] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza xvi. No. 8.
[42] _Cosmi Vita._, op. cit. ii. 135.
[43] _Cosmi Vita_, op. cit. ii. 161.
[44] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza viii. No. 336.
[45] Addressed on the outside of the letter: Giovanni di Chosimo de
Medici in Sienna o al Bagnio a Petriulo. (_Archivio Mediceo innanzi il
Principato_, Filza 8, No. 336.)
[46] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza. v. Avanzi, No. 274.
[47] _VII Lettere di Contessina Bardi nei Medici_, per nozze
Zanichelli-Mariotti. Edizione di lxxv. esemplari. September 6, 1886.
[48] A long, loose robe, generally tied round the waist, worn by
Florentine citizens in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
_Mettersi il lucco_ became a common saying for putting on fine clothes.
[49] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ix. No. 262.
[50] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza xvi. No. 30.
[51] The letter is addressed in a different handwriting: Spettabili
Viro Piero di Chosimo de’ Medici, Magnifico onorando in Firenze.
(_Arch._, &c., Filza 13, No. 20.)
[52] Her younger son.
[53] VII. _Lettere_, &c., _op. cit._
[54] Ibid.
[55] Cosimo’s illegitimate son by a slave-girl.
[56] “Pieve,” chief church of a parish, and the only one where baptisms
took place.
[57] _Cosmi Vita_, op. cit. ii. 194.
[58] _VII. Lettere_, &c., _op. cit._
[59] _VII. Lettere_, &c., _op. cit._
[60] Only son of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Cosimo’s brother, who was dead.
[61] _VII. Lettere_, &c., _op. cit._
[62] _Istorie di Giovanni Cambi_, Delizie degli Eruditi Toscani, xx.
273.
[63] Ibid., _op. cit._, xx. 281.
[64] A piece torn out of letter.
[65] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ix. No. 147.
[66] Ibid., No. 171.
[67] _Donne Medicei avanti il principato_, Berta Felice, Rassegna
Nazionale, 1907.
[68] _Ricordi di Firenze dell anno 1459_, di Autore Anonimo, a cure di
Guglielmo Volpi. Città di Castello, S. Lapi, MDCCCCVII.
[69] _Istorie di Giovanni Cambi._
[70] A piece of the letter is torn out.
[71] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza xvii. No. 124.
[72] Husband of Bianca de’ Medici, Piero’s daughter.
[73] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ix. No. 509.
[74] _VII. Lettere_, op. cit.
[75] _Cosmi Vita_, op. cit. ii. 234.
[76] _Cosmi Vita_, op. cit. ii. 235.
[77] _Cosmi Vita_, op. cit. ii. 243.
[78] _Lucrezia Tornabuoni, Donna di Piero di Cosimo de’ Medici_, G.
Levantini-Pieroni, p. 37. Firenze, 1888.
[79] A piece torn out of the letter.
[80] For an account of the Consuls of the Sea, see _Pisa_, “Mediæval
Towns.” Dent, London, 1909.
[81] A piece torn out of the letter.
[82] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ii. No. 546.
[83] _Cosmi Vita_, op. cit. ii. 246.
[84] A monastery built by Cosimo not far from Cafaggiuolo, in the
forest.
[85] _Cosmi Vita_, &c., _op. cit._ ii. 251.
[86] _Epistole Marsilii Ficini Florentini._ XV Decembris MCCCCXXXXIIII.
Florentiæ.
PIERO DI COSIMO DE’ MEDICI
(1416-1469)
Pietro, or, as he was commonly called, Piero de’ Medici, was
forty-eight when his father died in 1464, and had neither the moral
nor the physical strength necessary for his position. He was a martyr
to gout, from whence his surname _il Gottoso_. Kindly and indolent
by nature, he could be stern, terse, and eloquent when roused, and
his political insight was keen. The commencement of his reign, if
one may use the word, was unfortunate. Cosimo on his deathbed had
recommended his son to consult Diotisalvi Neroni, and to follow his
advice. The shrewd old man had been singularly deceived in his estimate
of the character of the man he bade Piero take as his right hand.
Machiavelli’s account of the conspiracy which so nearly wrecked the
power of the house of Medici is as follows:
“Messer Diotisalvi, moved more by his own ambition than by affection
for Piero or gratitude for the benefits he had received from Cosimo,
thought it would be easy to ruin Piero’s credit, and to deprive him of
the authority inherited from his father. He therefore gave him advice
which appeared most honest and reasonable, but in reality was meant
to lead to his ruin. Showing him the disorder in his affairs, and how
much money was absolutely necessary to save his own credit and that
of the State, he declared that the most honourable way to remedy his
difficulties would be to call in the debts due to his father by both
foreigners and citizens. For Cosimo, in order to gain partisans in
Florence and friends abroad, had been most generous in the use of his
riches, and the moneys owing to him amounted to a very considerable
sum. Such counsel seemed good and honest to Piero, who wished to remedy
his affairs with his own means. But as soon as he demanded repayment
of these loans the citizens, as though he wanted to take what was
theirs and not what was his own, complained loudly, and showed
small respect in speaking ill of him, and accusing him of ingratitude
and avarice. When Messer Diotisalvi saw the universal disfavour his
advice had brought on Piero he joined Messer Luca Pitti, Messer Agnolo
Acciaiuoli, and Niccolò Soderini, and they conspired to deprive Piero
of his credit and his authority. They were influenced by various
motives. Messer Luca aspired to fill the position held by Cosimo,
having become so great a man that he disdained to obey Piero. Messer
Diotisalvi, knowing that Messer Luca was unfit to be the head of the
government, thought that once Piero was out of the way the management
must of necessity fall to him. Niccolò Soderini desired that the city
should enjoy more freedom, and be governed according to the wishes of
the magistrates, while Messer Agnolo had private reasons for hating the
Medici. Some time before his son Raffaello had married Alessandra de’
Bardi, whose dower was very large. Owing either to her own misconduct,
or to the faults of others, she was maltreated by her father-in-law and
her husband; so one night Lorenzo d’Ilarione, her kinsman, moved to
pity for the girl, with many men-at-arms, took her away from the house
of Messer Agnolo. The Acciaiuoli complained of the insult done to them
by the Bardi, and the matter being laid before Cosimo he decreed that
the dower was to be repaid to Alessandra, and that she was to decide
whether she would or would not return to her husband. Messer Agnolo
did not think that in delivering this judgment Cosimo had behaved as
a friend, and not being able to do anything against him he determined
to take revenge on his son. The conspirators, though animated by such
diverse motives, agreed to give the same reason publicly, declaring
that they desired the city to be ruled by magistrates and not by the
uncontrolled will of a few men. The hatred felt against Piero and the
reasons for attacking him, were increased by the bankruptcy of many
merchants for which he was blamed; his unexpected demand to be repaid
having caused these men to fail, and thus brought great discredit and
loss upon the city.”[87]
[Illustration:
_Anderson_
PIERO DI COSIMO DE’ MEDICI.
_Detail from the fresco by Benozzo Gozzoli in the Chapel of Palazzo
Riccardi, Florence._]
Florence was divided into two camps, the Party of the Hill, so-called
because Luca Pitti’s palace was being erected on the highest part of
the city, and the Party of the Plain, because the palace of the Medici
was on the flat. “While things were in this disorder,” continues
Machiavelli, “the time arrived for renewing the chief magistrate, and
Niccolò Soderini was elected Gonfalonier of Justice.” But Niccolò
wasted his two months’ tenure of office in futile attempts to “reform”
the government, accomplished nothing, and quitted office a discredited
man. The conspirators then determined to murder Piero as he returned to
Florence from his villa of Careggi. He was only saved by the presence
of mind of his young son Lorenzo, who preceded him on horseback,
and noticed armed men loitering on the road. Lorenzo rode quietly
on announcing that Piero was close behind him, but sent back in hot
haste a messenger to order his father’s litter to take an unfrequented
lane. Luca Pitti, perceiving that if the Medici were swept away
Neroni and not himself would be the head of the Republic, betrayed
his fellow-conspirators, and made peace with Piero. His defection was
a death-blow to the conspiracy and to his own fortunes. Neroni and
Niccolò Soderini fled to Venice, Acciaiuoli to Siena first and then to
Naples, and the power of the Medici was once more firmly established.
Piero inherited his father’s love of letters and of art. He was the
first to employ Luca della Robbia, who decorated the ceiling of his
study in the Medici palace and made tiles for the floor, which, as
Vasari says, “was a new thing and most excellent for summer.” Luca also
made the vaulted roof of the marble chapel of the Crucifix inside the
ancient church of S. Miniato a Monte, erected by Piero’s orders by his
father’s faithful friend, Michelozzo Michelozzi.