death of Cosimo de’ Medici, foreign powers universally recognised his
son Piero as his successor in the rule of the Republic. The Pope sent
him a letter of condolence on his father’s death, while the King of
France, Louis XI., testified his regard for the Medici by creating him
a Privy Councillor, and giving him the right to add the Lily of France
to the arms of his family.
Pope Pius II. _to_ Piero de’ Medici
Beloved Son,--Greeting and apostolic blessing. We have just heard that
Cosimo, your father, has departed this life. This is indeed bitter
and mournful news, and most grievous to us. For we loved him with
sincere affection as a man whom we always found devoted to ourselves
and to the Apostolic See, whom we knew to be gifted with unusual
insight and kindness. Yet, my son, though many besides yourself will
mourn his death, you must bear with a brave heart this fate which
divine law has ordained for mortals. Accept this expression of God’s
will patiently, and do not give way to grief. If you consider the
course of human existence, Cosimo has had a long life; he has paid
his debt to nature, and in his old age he has gone the way of all
flesh. His life was full of honour; his glory extended beyond his
own city to all Italy, nay, to the whole world; he has lived in the
highest esteem and, what we must value more, in piety, and abiding in
the fear of God. It is not right to mourn the death of a man who has
lived righteously and justly, since we must believe that he has gone
from this troubled human existence to one that is full of peace and
tranquillity. As for us, beloved son, we intend to preserve towards
you the feelings we had for your father, and for him we had a singular
paternal affection. We promise that we shall always do what in our
judgment will be conducive to your honour and your interest, and to
that of the house of Medici. This we wish you to understand.--Given at
Ancona under the seal of the Fisherman, the 8th day of August 1464, in
the sixth year of our pontificate.[88]
Louis XI., _King of France_, _to_ Piero de’ Medici
_Dilecto Filio Nobili Viro Petro de’ Medicis._ Louis, by the grace of
God King of France.
Most dear and great Friend,--We have received by our beloved and
faithful courier Francesco Nori your letters which you sent to us
by him. From him and from your letters we have learned how kindly
you have acted in our favour towards our dear and beloved uncle the
Duke of Milan about the affair of the Marches of which we wrote,
and we are much pleased and very grateful to you. We also heard of
the death of the late Cosimo de’ Medici, our great friend and your
father, which has given and does give us much sorrow, both for the
singular love we bore him and for the great and laudable services he
rendered to us and to the French crown during his whole life. For the
enduring memory thereof and of the friendship he showed to us and to
the crown, and in order to honour him and you and all his relatives
and family, and for the salvation of his soul, we beg you to dedicate
to the service of your said dead father banners with our arms, of
such number as seems best to you and is customary in such cases. We
have also, in order to show the confidence we place in you, in your
wisdom, loyalty, goodness, and diligence, and for the preservation of
the friendship and goodwill which always existed between your late
father and ourselves, appointed you one of our privy councillors, and
have ordered the letters patent to be made out, which we send by the
bearer; and when you desire anything for yourself, for your family or
for your Commune, we shall grant it in your favour if you signify it
and let us know by the said Franceschino, for whom we have always felt
and feel singular affection and esteem.[89]
_Privilege granted by Louis XI. to the Medici to quarter the Lily of
France in their arms_
Louis, by the grace of God King of France. We make known to all
present and for the future: Bearing in mind the great, praiseworthy,
and much to be commended fame enjoyed by the late Cosimo de’ Medici
during his life in all his actions and his affairs, which he conducted
with such great virtue and prudence that his children and other
relatives and friends must be commended and held in high honour.
For these reasons and moved by the supplication and prayer which has
been addressed to us by our friends, and by our loyal Councillor
Piero de’ Medici, son of the said late Cosimo de’ Medici, we by
our own will, special grace, full power and royal authority decree
and command by these presents that the said Piero de’ Medici ...
his heirs and successors born and to be born in legal wedlock may
henceforward and for ever have and bear in the arms three Fleur de
lis of the shape and manner herein portrayed.... And these arms we
have given and give to them by these said presents, to use as seems
good to them in all places and among all people, in time of peace or
in time of war, without any impediment either now or hereafter being
placed to their so doing. And in order that this thing should be firm
and stable for ever, we have caused our seal to be set to these two
presents, reserving our rights in all other things and our authority
in everything.--Given at Mont Luçon in the month of May, the year of
grace 1465, and the fourth year of our reign.[90]
Owing to Piero’s miserable health, his son Lorenzo was sent, even as
quite a lad, to visit foreign courts and to receive foreign princes
who passed through Tuscany. Thus in April 1465 he met Don Federigo
d’Aragona, second son of the King of Naples, at Pisa, on his way to
Milan to escort his eldest brother’s bride, Ippolita Maria, daughter
of Francesco Sforza, to Naples. The two youths formed a lasting
friendship, and on Federigo’s return with his sister-in-law they came
to Florence and stayed in the Medici palace. Ippolita and Lorenzo then
became such friends that she never hesitated to appeal to him when,
as often happened in the needy Neapolitan court, she wanted money.
They often corresponded, and when Lorenzo went to Naples in 1479, the
Duchess of Calabria and Don Federigo were his powerful allies. The
following letter, a remarkable one for a lad of seventeen, was sent
to Don Federigo with a volume of poems selected from those writers
Lorenzo considered to be masters of the Tuscan tongue. There are two
copies in Florence, one in the Nazionale Library,[91] the other in the
Riccardiana.[92]
_The Magnificent_ Lorenzo to the Illustrious Lord Federigo, _son of the
King of Naples_
Often have I reflected, Illustrious my Lord Federigo, which among the
many and infinite poems of antiquity is the most excellent. Certes,
one must have been more admirable than the others. It has always
been a matter of surprise to me that no great and fine work was
originated in ancient times, either of hands or head, which did not
receive private and public recognition and reward. So as all rivers
and springs are said to have their origin from the great Ocean, all
the famous deeds and marvellous works of bygone men may be said to
derive from this laudable habit. The nutriment of every art is honour,
and by the desire of glory alone are men’s minds spurred to produce
admirable works. Thus in Rome we see magnificent triumphal entries,
in Greece the famous Olympian games, and both are celebrated by poets
and orators with infinite mastery. For this alone were the chariot
and the triumphal arch, the highly decorated theatres, the statues,
the palm branches, the garlands, the funereal honours; for this alone
were devised other splendid ornaments, and thus were encouraged high
and noble deeds of the intellect and of the sword, all the marvellous
works of the great men of ancient days, who assuredly (as our Tuscan
poet says) will never lack fame so long as this world lasts. These
of a truth were great and divine men, desirous of enduring fame and
supremely grateful to those who, by celebrating the valour and noble
deeds of great men in fine poetry, made their names immortal. Inflamed
by such desire, Alexander the Great on seeing the tomb of the famous
Achilles with a sigh uttered those memorable words: “Fortunate art
thou to have so glorious a sepulchre and to have been sung by such a
pen.” Fortunate indeed. For without the divine poet Homer Achilles’
body and fame would have been buried in one tomb together. And even
this poet, excellent above all others, would not have attained such
honour and glory had he not been so admired by a learned Athenian,
almost one may say raised from death to life. For after his death
the great poet’s noble work was scattered and dismembered until
Pisistratus, prince of Athens, a man endowed with many virtues and
of noble presence, offered large rewards to whosoever brought him
verses by Homer. Thus with great diligence and care he collected
and reconstructed the glorious poem, giving to it eternal life and
to himself everlasting glory. For this reason the only epitaph on
his statue is the record that he collected the poems of the great
Homer. Oh, truly divine men, born for the good of humanity and of
the world. The prince knew that his other deeds, however admirable,
were as nothing compared with this one poem. Such were these antique
men, whose deeds are not to be equalled in later times, and indeed
are hardly believed. For as rewards for noble deeds no longer exist
the flame of courage is extinguished; and as men do nothing worthy of
praise the singers of great deeds are despised. If this had not been
the case we should not now mourn the loss of so many Greek and Latin
writers. With them have also perished many of our own old poets, who
had begun to cultivate the desert fields of the Tuscan tongue, which
now again, in our century, are covered with wild flowerets and weeds.
But thy gracious hand, Illustrious Federigo, which thou hast deigned
extend to them will, after their long struggle, lead them safely into
port.
When we were together last year in the ancient city of Pisa we spoke
of those who had written poetry in the Tuscan tongue, and thy Lordship
expressed a desire that I should collect their works in one volume for
thee. Being desirous in this, as in all other matters, to fulfil thy
wishes I have, not without great labour, caused search to be made for
the works of all the old poets, and choosing the less rugged pieces
have gathered them into the volume I now send thy Lordship, in the
hopes that my efforts, such as they are, may please and that thou wilt
accept it in memory of me and as a proof of my true affection. Let
no one, however, despise this Tuscan tongue as unadorned or diffuse.
For if its richness and beauty be rightly understood it will not be
accounted rugged but rich and refined. There is nothing delicate,
elegant, graceful, or ornate, nothing witty, ingenious or subtle,
nothing ample and rich, nothing magnificent and sonorous, finally
nothing ardent, bold, or moving, that is not found in those two
magnates Dante and Petrarch, and even in others of whom thou, my Lord,
didst cite brilliant examples. Poetry (according to what Petrarch
writes in a Latin epistle) was held in high honour by the old Romans,
and after long neglect appeared again in Sicily not so many centuries
ago; then passing into France finally came to Italy as though to its
own home. The first who courted the new style was Guittone of Arezzo,
and about the same time the famous Bolognese, Guido Guizzinello. Both
were learned in philosophy, serious, and sententious. The first rather
harsh and severe and without the gift of eloquence, the second far
more lucid, suave, and ornate, so that our honoured Dante did not
scruple to call him his father and also father of others who wrote
love songs of great sweetness and charm. He was certainly the first to
colour and soften our language, which had only been roughly sketched
out by the rude Aretine. After them emerged the elegant Florentine,
Guido Cavalcanti, a subtle logician and philosopher, an honour to
his age. As he was handsome and graceful in person and of most noble
blood, so there was in his writings something, I know not what, more
beautiful, noble, and rare, than in others. Acute in reasoning,
sonorous, admirable, and grave in his sentences, rich and elevated
in composition, wise and prudent; and all these gifts are enhanced,
and as clothed in a precious garment, by a rare and exquisite style.
Had he used this on a wider field no doubt he would have attained to
the highest honours. One of his most admirable works is a song in
which this subtle and charming poet describes every quality, virtue,
and precedent of love. This was held in such high estimation that it
was commentated by three renowned philosophers, his contemporaries,
among them the Roman Egidio. We must not forget Bonagiunta of Lucca
and the notary of Lentino, both grave and sententious writers, but
so devoid of charm that they may be proud to be mentioned in the
company of these honoured men. They, and Pier delle Vigne in the
time of Guittone, were celebrated. The little written by the latter
is not without solemnity and erudition. He was the keeper (as Dante
says) of the keys of Frederick’s heart, and locked and unlocked it
at his pleasure. After these shone those two great men who illumined
our tongue, Dante and Petrarch. Of them (as Sallust says of Carthage)
I think it better to say nothing than to say too little. Onesto the
Bolognese and the earlier Silicians who flourished before them and
were therefore less versed in their art, did not lack talent or
ambition. Cino da Pistoja, in my estimation, well deserves his high
reputation; tender and loving, he was the first to entirely shake off
the antique ruggedness of which the divine Dante was not altogether
free. Then comes a long line of more modern writers who are far behind
those two great ones. All these, and with them some of our own time,
come to thank thee, who art more worthy of praise than that ancient
Athenian already mentioned. He only gave immortality to one, whilst
thou givest it to many. At the end of the volume (as seemed to be
thy desire) we have copied a few of our own sonnets and songs, so
that when reading them thou canst remember my loyalty and affection.
Although not worthy to be placed among the splendid works of the old
poets, yet they may serve as a foil to show their greater beauty.
Receive, therefore, Illustrious Lord, this volume and myself, not only
in thy house, but in thy heart and soul, as thou hast a blithe and
enduring abode in ours.
In the commentary Lorenzo wrote on some of his sonnets he not only, as
in the above letter, praises Italian, but affirms its equality with the
classic languages, and declares that neither Ovid, Tibullus, Catullus,
or Propertius wrote love songs of such beauty and grace as Petrarch.
It was by this enthusiastic participation in the intellectual pursuits
and interests of his day that Lorenzo, even as a youth, attained such
popularity with his fellow-citizens. They were proud of the lad who was
already known as a poet, who excelled in all bodily exercises, and who
was treated by foreign princes and potentates as an equal. The above
letter to Federigo d’Aragona shows that he was, to quote John Addington
Symonds: “A Florentine of the Florentines. Tuscan to the backbone,
imbued with the spirit of his city, a passionate lover of her customs
and pastimes, a complete master of her vernacular. His education,
though it fitted him for Platonic discussions with Ficino and rendered
him an amateur of humanistic culture, had failed to make a pedant of
him. Much as he appreciated the classics, he preferred his Tuscan
poets; and what he learned at school he brought to bear upon the study
of the native literature.”[93]
Soon after his return from Pisa Lorenzo was despatched by his father
to Bologna, Ferrara, Venice, and Milan. Piero calls the journey
“the touchstone of thy abilities.” The letters show that the boy of
seventeen was received as a prince, and discussed with the rulers of
the various states he visited important political matters, in all of
which he was kept carefully informed by his father. At the same time,
with characteristic Medicean shrewdness, Lorenzo was instructed to
place himself in the hands of his father’s agents in each city visited,
and the whole journey could be represented as a tour of inspection of
the various agencies of a great banking-house, and the introduction of
the heir to the business of the family.
Piero de’ Medici _to his son_ Lorenzo _at Milan_
Thou hast arrived at Milan later than I thought, and perhaps than
thou didst wish, on account of the delay caused by the honours paid
thee by the Duke at Ferrara. I have written to thank him, and to say
we are his debtors, and also to Messer Giovanni Bentivoglio I have
sent thanks, &c. Thou art to follow the advice of Pigello[94] and his
written instructions; be careful not to worry the Duke, he will have
enough of that with this marriage.[95] Thou art to consider thyself
as the servant and as belonging to the household of his Excellency,
and to ask Pigello’s advice as to what visits to pay, and what to
say. Remember to be civil and alert; act as a man and not as a boy.
Show sense, industry, and manly endeavour, so that thou mayst be
employed in more important things, for this journey is the touchstone
of thy abilities. I sent by carrier the rest of the silver [plate] to
Pigello, but have not yet heard of its arrival. If thou needst aught
else let me know, but Pigello will provide all that is necessary.
Consult with him about inviting Don Federigo one day to the house
there, or anything else thou thinkest needful. Arrange with him
after due reflection, and whatever is settled do with splendour and
in honourable fashion. Gugliemo,[96] thou, and Pigello can settle
together, and whatever is decided will please me, only, as I said, do
not stint money, but do thyself honour. When thou hast time, after
having paid thy visits, commend me to the Duke and to Madonna, to
Count Galeazzo and to whoso else thou thinkest right. Amuse thyself
and do not worry about us here, the time will come soon enough when
thou wilt have to do so. Nannina is well again; we will talk about her
marriage after thy return from Naples. Gugliemo’s family are all well;
tell him not to forget them entirely, and be not so taken up with all
those festivities as to forget thyself. I think thou hast better leave
there a few days before the others, because as I have Madonna the
Princess here in our house, and Gugliemo and thyself being absent, I
shall be as a man without hands, but of this I will write later. No
more at present. Christ guard thee.--Florence, May 4, 1465.[97]
Da Vinegia ho la tua de 2 dì et dovevi partire el dì seguente et così
da Allessandro a dì 3 m’avisa essere seguito et quanto haveir seguito
a Ferrara nel soprastare a complacentie di quel Signore et a Vinegia
nel vicitare el doge et quelli altri gentiluomini che tucto lodo et
commendo et cosὶ credo che harete facto la più parte delle vicitationi
harj trovato una mia lettera scrittati a dì 4 e per quella dettoti
come t’abbi a governare per questa el simile ti ricordo et per dire
con una parola a te bisogna fare conto essere huomo et non garzone
le parole e gesti et modi sieno circa quest’ effecto et bisognando
convitare o fare alcuna altra cosa per farti honore non perdonare a
spesa o cosa che facci di bisogno per ora non entrerò in altro Innanzi
che parta di costì sarai avisato di quello che haraj a fare da poi
la partita ma mi sono ristretto con questi cittadini et a ciascuno è
paruto jo debba ricevere alla tornata questi S. qui in casa nostra
et così m’a commandato la S. la quale ho ubbidito volentieri et era
mestieri che tu o Gugliemo vi trovassi di qua che m’aresti levato
assai noje pur si farà el melglio che si potrà Sarà necessario che
vi partiate qualche giorno innanzi alla brigata di costà et a tempo
ne sarete avisati. Io non ti scrissi a Vinegia perché ’l soprastare
tuo a Ferrara ruppe l’ordine benché poco porti la brigata qui nostra
grazia di Dio tutti siamo sani et sta bene la Nannina in tucto guari
la brigata di Gugliemo similmente sta benissimo così atendete voi
acciò che ritorniate qui in buon ordine qui s’aparecchia per venuta di
cotesti S. fare una bella festa per San Giovanni et così si cerca per
altra via fare loro grandiximo honore essi levato su Giuliano nostro
messo al punto da Baccio Benci at da altri et vorrebbono armeggiare ma
farla altrimenti Mca. che non s’è usato La S. vuole che faccino io non
me ne contento vedrò di sgabellarmene se potrò non vorrei tante noie a
un tracto et maraviglomi di Giovanni de’ Pazzi che havendo facto una
volta ci si rimette la seconda che seguira sapraj Ne altro al presente
Xpo ti guardi In Firenze a dì XI di maggio 1465.
Non ti scordi racomandarmi al Mco. conte Guasparre.
Piero de Medici.[98]
[Illustration]
Piero de’ Medici _to his son_ Lorenzo _at Milan_
I have thy letter of May 2nd from Venice, saying thou wert to
leave the next day. Alessandro wrote on the 3rd and told me of thy
departure, and of what thou didst at Ferrara to please the Duke,
and of thy visits at Venice to the Doge and other gentlemen, all of
which I approve and commend, and I think thou hast paid nearly all
necessary visits. Thou wilt have received my letter of the 4th telling
thee what conduct to pursue, all of which remember; in a word, it is
necessary for thee now to be a man and not a boy; be so in words,
deeds, and manners, and if thou givest dinners or other entertainments
do not let there be any stint in money or whatever else is needful
to do thyself honour. For the present I say no more. Before leaving
thou shalt hear what to do. I have consulted with the citizens here,
and they all agree that I must receive the princes[99] in our house
on their return, and the Signoria has commanded me to do so: I obey
willingly, but it would have taken much trouble off my hands hadst
thou and Gugliemo been here; however, we will do the best we can. It
will be better for thee to leave a few days before the others, thou
shalt be warned in time. I did not write to Venice because the delay
at Ferrara threw out all arrangements, but it is of no consequence.
All our family here are well, and we hope thou art the same and wilt
return in safety. We are preparing great festivities for these princes
on S. John’s day, and shall try and do them honour also in other
ways. Our Giuliano has been persuaded by Baccio Benci and others to
arrange a tournament, but in more magnificent fashion than usual. The
Signoria wishes it; I am against it, and shall try to get out of it if
possible. I do not want to have so many bothers at the same time, and
am astonished that Giovanni de’ Pazzi, having done it once, undertakes
to do it again. Thou shalt know what is decided. No more at present.
Christ guard thee.--In Florence on the 11th day of May 1465.
Do not forget to commend me to the Magnificent Count Guasparre.
Piero de’ Medici.[100]
S. John’s Day (24th June) is still a great holiday in Florence. The
cathedral and the baptistery are illuminated, and fireworks (the
scaffoldings for which used to be erected on the Ponte della Carraja
until the tramway took possession of the bridge) are now let off on
the Piazza Michelangelo. An old chronicler writes: “On the day of S.
John, the patron saint of the city, and on the vigil thereof, not only
are there infinite demonstrations of spiritual joy, but everything
that can be done in such a city is done to show temporal happiness and
gaiety. Swift horses called _Barberi_ race in public for a _palio_, or
banner, of cloth of gold lined with precious fur. Merchants display
untold riches in gold, jewels, pearls, and money, and in cloth of gold,
silks, and woollen goods of incredible value. There are illuminations,
bonfires, and fireworks, both public and private, and the whole city
is given over to rejoicing. Among other diversions is jousting. This
is a game played by men clothed in the richest damasks and costumes
and varied liveries, according to the costumes and liveries of their
families, who place themselves in proper order in the field (having
first triumphantly escorted an emperor in a gilded car, with a fine and
noble procession of kings, dukes, marquesses, counts, soldiers, and
baggage waggons), on splendidly caparisoned horses, well trained to
race. First they race in the public squares, and then in certain places
set apart for breakneck exercises they break lances with no small
dexterity.”