Lordship. I went at once to the Magnificent Lorenzo and read him
the whole letter, entreating him in Your Excellency’s name to keep
it absolutely secret. When His Magnificence heard it I assure Your
Lordship that he remained for a time without opening his lips from
agony and rage, and then said: “I believe all that is evil of this
Pope, the more so that to-day I heard from Rome that S. Piero in
Vincula is going to Padua on the pretence of fulfilling a vow, but
really in order to conclude a league with the Venetians and settle
everything.” Then he added: “This ecclesiastical State has always
been the ruin of Italy, because being ignorant and not knowing how to
govern, the priests put the whole world in peril. If His Majesty puts
an end to the Barons, he will then teach the Pope to read.” About the
news that Signor Roberto was to lead the Genoese against him, &c.,
he did not seem to care much, or to hold them in much estimation,
saying that they would need other men than the crews of galleys. He
then said: “If Signor Roberto is to be the instrument of this it is
not serious.” By these words I gathered that His Magnificence did not
greatly fear Signor Roberto on account of the friendship existing
between them and that he meant, according to my poor judgment, that
Signor Roberto would not make war on Florence; though he did not
express himself clearly.--Florence, November 20, 1486.[328]
Lorenzo de’ Medici _to_ Ugolino Baccio _in Apulia_
To Baccio.
I have yours of the 18th, 22nd, and 29th, and now answer what is most
important. As to the understanding between the Pope and the King I
have no fear that it will cause me trouble; for if I thought the
King did not understand the difference between one who has seriously
offended him and one who has aided him with all his might, I should
not have advised this city to help him. The confirmation of the
custom we have adopted of making princes of the relatives of Popes
displeases me, because I have experienced the evils it gives rise to,
and know that the more esteem one shows for others the less is shown
to oneself, and that one example entails others. I have come to the
conclusion that a union between Milan, ourselves, and the house of
Orsini would be to our advantage and to theirs, and anything that
indicates greater faith in others than in us weakens this bond. But
as the Lord Virginio [Orsini] is of a different opinion I give way,
particularly as Messer Gianjacopo [Trivulzio, Sforza’s general], who
is as prudent and expert as Papi Tani, is of his way of thinking. I
do not however repent of having spoken fully and openly about this,
unless the King or the Duke have taken offence, in which case I had
rather have bitten my tongue.
As to the other part of your letter in which you say you have heard
from Milan that the Duke has been told I am displeased at his seeking
to protect himself and obtain a following, it is false, and no man who
speaks the truth can say it. Give the Duke to understand that if I
believed that the frauds and lies of others would find credence with
His Excellency as against my actions, I think I should go and live
with the Turk. The proof of what my desire has been is that I always
counselled the Duke by letter, and in person at Citerna, to take
Colonessi into his service, and persuaded the Lord Virginio that this
was the proper thing. It appears to me unnecessary to make excuses, as
it might give rise to the idea that I was in fault, of which I am as
free as the day I was born. I am I think known as an upright man and
loyal, and one to be trusted by the Duke as fully as any man alive for
sincerity and a complete lack of prejudice. What I have done to aid
him was done without any design of benefiting the State or myself, of
my own free will and reason. He will see that I shall not trouble him
much or reproach him every hour as will probably be done by others. If
I have asked him for anything, as for example San Germano, I can truly
say it was rather offered to me than asked for, and whether I get it
or not, I shall continue the same line of conduct without any feeling
of anger, because I was actuated by higher motives which still affect
me. Messer Gianjacopo would do well to send you the Brief which he
mentioned to Pier Capponi as having already arrived, and which creates
more difficulties; and he would have done still better not to tell
the Pope the intentions of others with regard to the negotiations for
peace. I had given no authority to any one, and am more than content
that love and peace reigns between the King and the Lord Lodovico: for
if a good understanding does not exist between us peril and great loss
will ensue. I never consider that any good will come to me from harm
done to others. Perhaps some day God will open the eyes of all wider.
I am glad your expedition meets with the approval of the person you
mention, I will arrange that you shall find there any news I can give.
But as the Pope appears ill-disposed I have small faith in anything
that depends on him.
I am very glad that the Count’s affairs at Citerna have been arranged
not only to his satisfaction but in a way honourable to myself. Thank
Virginio [Orsini] heartily from me, to whom we owe this. And as I
understand he has arranged the affairs and interests of all the family
except those of Organtino [Orsini, Clarice’s eldest brother] entreat
him particularly also to arrange Organtino’s satisfactorily, making
him understand that I regard the affairs of His Holiness as being my
own. For the love of God, Baccio, bestir yourself with all your might
in this matter, I am most anxious about it, particularly for love of
Clarice. I long for peace at home as I see small reason to hope for it
abroad.--December 3, 1486.[329]
Messer Guidone Aldrovandini, _Ambassador from Ferrara to the Florentine
Republic, to the_ Duke Ercole d’Este
... Milan has written the most amiable letters to this Illustrious
Signoria about the affair of Sarzana, saying that they will expose
their State and their persons if necessary in the service of Florence.
These letters are explained by Milan having heard of the league
between the Pope and the Venetians, and finding that she cannot draw
the Pope on her side as she thought, she now tries to make friends
here. The Illustrious Lodovico has also written a most loving letter
to the Magnificent Lorenzo, saying that they have both erred, and
suggesting that the past be set aside and a clean page begun, when
the Magnificent Lorenzo will see that he will be a true and good
brother; and that he will not believe the past has been forgotten
unless some great service is demanded of him. These letters have been
most acceptable to the Magnificent Lorenzo....--Florence, December 10,
1486.[330]
... Sarzana is being bombarded day and night by the Florentine troops,
and it is hoped that S. Francesco will be theirs in two days, when
Sarzana must fall. Some soldiers and officers have fled from the town
and say the inhabitants are in great straits and have begun to eat the
army biscuits, and that Messer Ettore Dal Fiesco, the commissary, is
hated for his extreme cruelty. Two of the mortars of this Illustrious
Signoria have burst. The Magnificent Lorenzo is at Pisa urging on the
capture of Sarzana; he has sent the big mortar from Pisa, and pioneers
in haste to the camp, whom he paid in advance as otherwise none would
go....--Florence, June 7, 1487.[331]
The Magnificent Lorenzo has gone himself to the camp before Sarzana
to push on matters. S. Francesco has fallen....--Florence, June 9,
1487.[332]
The Magnificent Lorenzo arrived here on the vigil of S. Giovanni (23rd
June) and was received with more joy and caresses by the people than I
can describe, as they say they owe the taking of Sarzana to him more
than to others....--Florence, June 26, 1487.
... The Magnificent Lorenzo said bitter words to me about the
Illustrious Signor Lodovico (il Moro), particularly as to the
withdrawal of his troops _ex abrupto_ from the camp (before Sarzana),
saying the Signor Lodovico was so puffed up that he fancied the
Genoese would give him Castelletto and Genoa, but that time would
teach him better....--Florence, June 28, 1487.[333]
... I again tried to persuade the Magnificent Lorenzo that he would
do well and wisely to let Your Highness try and dissipate this
misunderstanding between the Illustrious Messer Lodovico and His
Magnificence, and that I was sure Your Highness would be able to
arrange matters so that they would be greater friends than before.
His Magnificence was greatly perturbed and said Your Highness was
in a position to know how justified were the complaints of this
Signoria against the Signor Lodovico and then turned his back on me.
I attempted to ask him what this meant but in vain: he would not
answer. I confess I do not know what to infer from this. If Your
Excellency understands, so much the better. A friend told me that at
home His Magnificence talks like a desperate man, and says that he
would like to go for six months to some place where Italian affairs
would never be mentioned, and that your Excellency cannot imagine
what joy His Magnificence showed at the victory gained by the King of
France, and openly said he hoped to see the King master of all Italy.
From this one can only conceive that His Magnificence is very irate.
God turn his heart to act well....--Florence, July 7, 1487.[334]
... The Magnificent Lorenzo continues to be desperately angry with the
Illustrious Messer Lodovico.... He spoke most terrible and desperate
words saying that Messer Lodovico was doing all he could to make the
Pope and the Florentines throw themselves at the feet of H.M. the
King, and that this should be done; that as Messer Lodovico wished
Italian affairs to go to the bad His Magnificence would aid and abet
him, &c. What will happen I know not, but I do know that if he were
to act wisely they would come to some good understanding as did his
forefathers, and as Your Highness has told him several times. His
Magnificence sent off special messengers yester eve to Rome and to
Milan. May God guide this business to a good end, for to me it seems
that evil passions are rising here every day....--Florence, July 18,
1487.[335]
Duke Ercole d’Este _to_ Messer Aldrovandini, _Ambassador of Ferrara to
the Florentine Republic_
... You are informed that the Illustrious Messer Lodovico [il Moro]
is ill; it seems he is afflicted with certain pains in the stomach
which give him great suffering. Therefore many friends of his and
of ours at Milan who are anxious about his health, have entreated
us to beg the Magnificent Lorenzo to send a certain Maestro Pietro
Leoni, an excellent doctor who is at Florence, to Milan, a man of
great knowledge who may perhaps cure this malady.[336] We therefore
desire that as soon as you receive this you go to the Magnificent
Lorenzo and in our name beg him as heartily as you can, for love of
us and for the interest we believe he takes in the health of the
Illustrious Lodovico, to send the said Maestro Pietro immediately to
Milan.--Ferrara, August 31, 1487.[337]
Messer Guidone Aldrovandini, _Ambassador of Ferrara to the Republic of
Florence, to_ Duke Ercole d’Este
... I hear from a good source that Messer Giovanni Jacopo de’ Trivulzi
has been commissioned by the Pope to tell the Magnificent Lorenzo that
he only sleeps with the eyes of the said Magnificent Lorenzo, that he
must advise him, the Pontiff, wisely and guide him; if he does so the
gain and the honour will be his; but if his advice be bad it will lead
to the ruin of both. The Pope complains as high as the third heaven of
the King’s conduct to him.[338] At the same time Messer Jacopo speaks
of the cowardice, misery, and sadness of the Pope, as one speaks about
a blackguard, and says that if he be not encouraged and helped to keep
up his spirits, he will sink lower than any coward ever sank. To-day
comes news that the King has appealed _ad novum Concilium contra
Pontificem_ on account of his behaviour to H.M. This will I believe
frighten the Pope, for he is a very rabbit....--Florence, September 6,
1487.[339]
... The Pope says the King cannot appeal because at Mantua, when
the Diet assembled in the time of Pope Pius, all the Italian princes
promised never to appeal _ad futurem Concilium_. _Item_ that H.M.
expressly promised Pope Sixtus not to appeal, &c. For these reasons
His Sanctity declares that he can proceed against the King. But I
think he will be cautious.--Florence, September 12, 1487.[340]
... H.M. the King and the Duke of Calabria[341] declare that neither
through the King of Castile, or through Milan or Florence, have they
ever given a promise to pay tribute to the Pope. Here this declaration
is laughed to scorn as being made by cunning evildoers, _cum sit_ that
Milan and Florence made the promise and the agreement was signed with
the Pope, so H.M. will have to pay the tribute. However like wise men
the Signori of Florence have resolved to ignore the arrogant message
of the King and the Duke, and to drink this bitter cup....--Florence,
November 7, 1487.[342]
... To-day at 22 of the clock Messer Ascanio with fourteen horsemen
passed through here in disguise, riding hard by post to Milan. It
appears he has been summoned by the Milanese nobles because the death
of Messer Lodovico is expected. The Magnificent Lorenzo and the
Milanese ambassador saw His Excellency, but no one else as it was kept
secret and he did not enter the city.... Should Messer Lodovico die
the Magnificent Lorenzo will aid Messer Ascanio in every way to become
Lord of Milan. Some time ago he was of a different mind, but now he
will do everything to turn matters in the Pope’s favour and against
H.M. the King.... From a friend I learn that the Duke of Lorraine has
just been here in disguise and has seen the Magnificent Lorenzo at
night, who at once sent him on to the Pope.--Florence, November 18,
1487.[343]
Lorenzo de’ Medici _to_ Innocent VIII.
_Sanctissime, ac Beattissime Pater post Pedum oscula Beatorum
Vestorum_,--From our ambassador I hear that Your Holiness has seen fit
to suspend the affair of Nantes, and to defer granting the request to
the King of France. Although I must acquiesce in every decision of
Your Holiness, yet the reasons Your Holiness gives for delay cause
me to write again; for if the Most Christian King obtains his desire
he will be even more beholden to Your Sanctity, while my condition
and reputation will be enhanced. I am sure if Your Holiness knew
the help and the utility this would be to me, this business would
not be deferred, particularly as the King has in general no need of
my services, and such an occasion as the present comes but seldom.
If the love Your Holiness bears me is not shown in great matters,
it will be ill seen in small. With all humility therefore I beseech
Your Holiness to deign to grant me one of the greatest boons I could
receive, and to do a pleasure to H.M. the King. A pleasure which
will be much esteemed by H.M., and be most honourable and useful to
me. There will be no difficulty in it, and it cannot be unbecoming
in Your Holiness to satisfy the desire of so great a King, who is so
well-deserving _de Ecclesia Dei_, and at the same time to content me,
Your humble and devoted servant, who humbly commends himself at Your
Holy Feet.--Florence, December 8, 1487. _Humilis servitor_,
Laurentius de’ Medicis.[344]
Messer Aldrovandini, _Ambassador from Ferrara to the Florentine
Republic, to_ Duke Ercole d’Este
... The Pope has been much cheered by the assurances of the Venetian
envoys, who openly say that their Signoria only hastened to make
peace with the Germans, in order to come to the aid of His Sanctity
and the honour of the Holy See ... and to force His Majesty the King
to keep the promises made to His Sanctity.... Milan has written here
that she considers the King ought to be informed that should he
fail to arrange matters with the Pope, and the Pope declares war,
he is not to expect help from either Florence or Milan.... As yet
these Signori have not come to any decision, but I think they will
join Milan in this.... As to the Venetians I do not believe they
would bother themselves with such an enterprise, unless they saw a
chance of gaining something in addition to the hatred they bear the
King....--Florence, December 18, 1487.[345]
... The Magnificent Lorenzo is of opinion that the Pope should rather
be held back than pushed forward, and that the King should not be
irritated, thus His Magnificence thinks we might have peace and
quiet, if the contrary is done he fears that disaster will ensue....
The Magnificent Lorenzo is extremely discontented with the Pope’s
behaviour, and thinks he shows greater folly every day and every
hour, particularly if he insists in launching interdicts against the
King.... As to the letters written from Milan, which I mentioned
in mine of the 18th, the answer was that as allies they could only
applaud the idea of letting the King know that they desired to stand
well with the Pope, &c. The reply was airy: they did not desire to be
explicit.
From a friend I learn that the Magnificent Lorenzo spoke in different
terms to the Milanese ambassador, saying, that as Messer Lodovico’s
condition prevents him from attending to business, it seems to him
unwise to irritate the King, particularly as H.M. has everything
ready and is prepared for war, while the Pope is without troops
and with small brains, has bad advisers, and all the Roman Barons
against him. The worst of all being that neither the Pope, nor Milan,
nor Florence, have any commander if they wished to go to war,
&c....--Florence, December 28, 1487.[346]
... The Magnificent Lorenzo is of opinion that the acts of the Pope
will be worse than his words. The ambassadors of the League have
arranged with His Sanctity that Imola and Forlì should go to the
Count’s sons,[347] but the Magnificent Lorenzo believes that from
what he hears the children have been poisoned. In this case the
Pope has every claim on that State as being Church property and the
Lords invested by the Church being dead ... His Magnificence would
far rather see Forlì and Imola in private hands than in those of a
powerful prince. But if they are to belong to a potentate he had
rather it should be Milan than the Church; for Milan has several
Baronies, and might bestow the State on some lord, as did Duke
Galeazzo, but the Church would never do so, as for some time she has
been a sworn enemy to the Barons and the Lords, and whatever she
seizes she holds. Also the rule of the Church is so admirable that it
does harm to its neighbours! And although I argued with him to see
whether these were his real convictions he remained staunch, saying
that the time would come when the Church would be more dangerous than
the Signoria of Venice, and that this belief more than anything else
induced him to favour H.M. the King [of Naples]....--Florence, April
25, 1488.[348]
Agnolo Poliziano _to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici
_Magnifice Domine mi_,--We arrived safely at Acquapendente yester
evening at 8 o’clock, I wrote to you also from Montepulciano.
To-morrow we leave for Viterbo. We are all in high spirits and find
good cheer, and all along the road we pick up new tunes and May
songs, which seem to me more original here than elsewhere, _alla
Romanesca, vel nota ipsa vel argumento_. I commend myself to Your
Magnificence.--Acquapendente, May 2, 1488. Your Magnificence’s servant,
Ang. Politianus.[349]
Poliziano accompanied Piero de’ Medici to Rome to meet his bride
Alfonsina Orsini, to whom he had been married by proxy at Naples in
February the year before. His mother Clarice, who was very ill, had
been in Rome since November hoping, as consumptive people do, that the
milder air would cure her. With her had gone her favourite daughter,
“the eye of her head,” Maddalena, affianced to the Pope’s illegitimate
son Francesco Cibò. Piero and his wife, Clarice and Maddalena, all
returned together to Florence, Lorenzo having begged the Pope and Cibò
to allow Maddalena to come with her sick mother. With her, when she
went to Rome, he had sent Matteo Franco, “one of the dearest creatures
of my house,” he calls him, to keep the young girl company, and to
look after her. How well the humorous, kindly priest fulfilled his
trust, how cordially he disliked both Genoese and Romans, and how he
longed for the brilliant society of the Medici palace is shown in the
following letter. Cibò, a gambler, ignorant and stupid, had sense
enough to recognise how invaluable Franco was, and although he raised
no objection to Maddalena’s going with her mother, he refused to part
with Franco.
Matteo Franco, _from Stigliano, to_ Ser Piero Dovizi da Bibbiena,
_Chancellor to Lorenzo de’ Medici, at Florence_
O revered, sweet, and good brother mine, where art thou at this
moment? what art thou doing? art thou well? Hast thou so soon
forgotten thy Franco who eating or sleeping only dreams of his dear
soul Ser Piero? This I will never believe, far rather would I imagine
that thou art hurt because I have written so seldom; that thou art
sorry because I am not near thee, thy companions and affairs; and
above all that thou art sorry because thou dost not see the expected
fruit of thy kind and loving sowing, of thy many heartfelt letters
in my favour, of all the kind things said about me to my lord and of
thy expectation founded on the esteem and love thou bearest me. All
this gladdens and yet distresses me; gladdens me because I rejoice in
possessing so good and true a friend; distresses me when I think that
all thy trouble has been in vain by no fault of mine. But, sweet Ser
Piero, do not lose faith in me, as I do not lose it in thee, good will
come of it all.
Thou must know that till now we have come out of all with honour, _id
est_ thy Franco, as Franco, towards his masters, towards thee, and
towards himself, has done well despite of malignant, venomous and
treacherous, envious, &c. I came, and on the road and whilst in Rome,
with all the love and economy I was able to employ was so useful to
my masters that they showed their appreciation by words and deeds
many times; particularly when I stood aloof and they tried others. Of
the money received by me for the expenses, my enemies twice carefully
dissected, like anatomists, my accounts, shop by shop, day by day,
entry by entry; and everything was in such order that calumny had a
fall, and they were laughed at and put to shame. Thus my affection,
fidelity, and diligence were established and talked of publicly by
them as I heard privately, so that I pardon all. When I made up the
final balance only twenty-eight lire were missing, which must have
been forgotten by the man who buys retail. This would be of small
account if I had not lost so much in brains, soul, and body, instead
of only twenty-eight lire, in all these devilries and persecutions,
&c., so that I even once cursed both thee and Lorenzo who sent me into
this hell. But God has helped us, for of a certain Lorenzo, thou, and
my own good intentions, could not have a bad ending.
All this, my Ser Piero, must be a comfort to thee as it is to me.
Also I cannot describe the kindness and love shown to me by Madonna
Clarice, twice or thrice she even said that the Count showed small
discretion in taking me from her, exclaiming: “See how I am left, I
will not allow any man to have the spending of my money but Franco;
and I will eat nothing but what has passed through his hands; we never
intended to give Franco to him in order that he might be buried alive
in a wood, he would be far more useful to Madonna Maddalena and to his
house if he were here at hand, &c.” She talked of this a hundred times
and has already sent for me twice since I have been at these baths,
and kept me two or three days until his Lordship drove me back to the
baths.
It was rumoured that Maddalena was to go to Florence with Alfonsina
and a list was drawn up of things she was going to ask of the Count
for her journey; among others she desired:
“As chaplain I wish for Franco.
“And some one to write my letters, for this Franco will be good.
“And I should like Your Excellency’s necklace for the time I am in
Florence, and such a dress and such footmen, &c., if it please you,
&c.” The list was given to my lord in the evening and after reading
it he replied: “All thou askest I give thee willingly, save only
Franco and my necklace.” The girl replied: “Madonna Clarice desires
that he should come.” “And I desire that he should stay. They have
nought more to do with Franco once Lorenzo has given him to thee, and
I desire that thou leavest him to look after thy interests for the
income of the baths I intend for thee. Thou seest how I am robbed by
all. He has done more in the fifteen days he has been there than all
my other people since I had Cervetri.”