doubtless wept more than once with Madonna Baccia over my coming to
stay here, for Madonna Baccia writes that she talks of me and calls
me every hour. Were it not for this and for the thought of him there,
who is my soul and my heart, of whom I think in all my tribulations
so that by the true God, Ser Piero, melancholy then flies from me and
my heart is so consoled that my soul is kept in my body. Otherwise
I should have died a hundred times. Enough. I might go on and tell
that every day I hear how my lord praises me, and I hope from these
baths to get great honour, &c., and a hundred other expectations from
friends and models made in Rome. But as I do not want to break thy
head I skip: enough that I have let off a little bile; I wanted to
tell thee something about my life. I have been here at the baths of
Stigliano since March 12th, saving the few days Madonna Clarice sent
for me as I said; and have already arranged the baths Tuscan fashion.
The rooms are disgusting, Bagno a Morba is a Careggi in comparison;
the air is accursed, the men are like Turks; everything as bad as can
be. Day and night I have to struggle with _bravi_, with soldiers,
with swindlers, with venomous dogs, with lepers, with Jews, with
madmen, with thieves, and with Romans. Now I run to the cook, now
to the baker, then to the tavern, then to clients in the inns; then
I argue with the discontented, with the sick in the hospital, then
with the pedlar, then with the grocer, then with the chemist; then I
go to the washerwoman, then to the grooms, then to the courier, then
to the doctor, then to the priest. For I have transported all these
people here; there were but bare walls and only half of them standing.
In short I have had to bring from the smallest to the largest thing
which may be needful for perhaps ten thousand people into this forest,
so that every man may have, by paying, every convenience he wants. And
I am alone to manage all. During this month of May never a day has
passed but there have been a hundred or a hundred and fifty persons;
rooms, beds, even the courtyard, all are full, and some days there
have been more than three hundred. Most of them stay three days and
then go; and I have to receive them all, to see to their food, to
provide what they want and have not brought with them, grass, oats,
hay, in short, everything. For all this they have to pay me, so I
hope to glean more than four hundred ducats for Madonna Maddalena if
God gives me health. With cooks, innkeepers, bakers and so on, I have
about twenty-five men in my pay; and if you could see your Franco
in this tempest and purgatory and whirl, host of this great inn of
the devil, by God you would pity him. They comfort me by saying that
Christ must wish me well if I escape without a beating, a knife in my
ribs, a quarrel, or an illness, for no one has ever returned whole
from here, God be praised for His mercies. Yet I am of good cheer and
have such faith in my fair dealing that I hope to do myself honour, if
it pleases God. Till now I have pocketed about a hundred ducats, and
all sorts and conditions of men have come. If I have not gained with
the bad ones I have not lost; most went away contented. From those of
the better sort, couriers, gentlemen, and the like, I think I have
gained affection and esteem, for since they returned to Rome they have
written to me and sent me presents. Some day I hope to find a great
joy, I even hope in the ---- of Lucifer the Great, serving for the
love of God, of Lorenzo and of what is his. _Vale._--May 6, 1488.
Your Franco, fighting at the Baths of Stigliano.[350]
The rejoicings for Piero’s marriage were suddenly turned to mourning.
Lorenzo’s second daughter Luisa, betrothed to her cousin Giovanni, of
the junior branch of the Medici, died at the age of sixteen, so bride
and bridegroom went to Careggi without entering Florence. Early in
June, however, a magnificent banquet was given in honour of Alfonsina,
to which all the foreign ambassadors and the chief citizens of the
city were invited. Soon afterwards arrived Francesco Cibò, and for the
first time since the Pazzi conspiracy in 1478 the day of S. Giovanni
(24th June) was again celebrated with great magnificence. The peasants
flocked into Florence to see the Pope’s son, husband of the gentle
Maddalena, and the crowd saluted him with loud cries of “_Cibò e
Palle_.” Serdonati’s account of Lorenzo’s home life, apropos of these
festivities, is interesting.
“When in 1488 Francesco went to Florence to celebrate his marriage
he took many knights and noble persons with him, the flower of the
Roman nobility. He was received with great splendour and lodged with
all his people right royally. But soon Lorenzo, taking pleasure in
seeing his son-in-law familiarly, or perchance thinking to gain still
more the Pope’s benevolence, continually invited him to dine at his
house without ceremony, or as we say _alla casalinga_. Now it appears
that the Florentines are generally held to be chary of spending
their money, so he thought that those gentlemen who had accompanied
him to honour his wedding might be treated in like manner, and was
sore troubled, fearing that the city of Florence and his relations
would be held up to ridicule afterwards in Rome. Afraid to hear
what he did not wish, he dared not ask how they fared. But one day
a Roman gentleman who was intimate with him saw how full of thought
he was and asked the reason. He answered that although he knew his
father-in-law Lorenzo was a man of great reputation and worth, yet he
felt mortified, because on account of the usage of the city or for
some other reason his friends were treated in too homely a fashion. He
was therefore pained, but it might be remedied by a speedy departure,
and in Rome he would indemnify them for any discomforts or annoyances
they had undergone. The cavalier, astonished, replied that had the
Pope himself been lodged as they were he could not have complained, or
been more magnificently entertained, cared for, served and honoured,
and that no one could desire more. So delighted was Francesco to
hear this that he could not contain himself and recounted all to his
father-in-law, who with great urbanity replied that children, among
whom he now reckoned Francesco, and strangers and noble persons, such
as had accompanied him, were to be treated differently; the latter
with all magnificence, partly for their own merits, partly out of
respect for him and to do him honour; but that between him and his
own children he had made no difference. This gave much pleasure and
satisfaction to Francesco and greatly pleased the Pope when he heard
of it, and all admired the wisdom and prudence of Lorenzo in all
things both public and private.”[351]
Messer Aldrovandini, _Ambassador from Ferrara to the Florentine
Republic, to the_ Duke Ercole d’Este
I have seen Pier Filippo Pandolfini twice, who is the heart of Lorenzo
in the Council and the first citizen of Florence ... to tell him
according to your Excellency’s instructions that we will do anything
rather than break with Milan. He replied that they would never commit
the error of breaking, but _etiam_ that they would never consent to
anything that would dishonour or disgrace this city. Florence, he
said, is neither Cremona nor Pavia, which are subject to the State of
Milan, and he thought Milan wished to treat the Florentines as though
they were her subjects ... and that now this Signoria [Florence] had
reconquered Piancaldoli[352] they would never give it up.--Florence,
May 15, 1488.[353]
... The Illustrious Signori Eight sent for me to-day; with them was
the Magnificent Lorenzo and several citizens, and they told me the
news from Faenza. The imprisonment of Messer Giovanni [Bentivoglio]
and of Madonna, the death of Count Giampiero del Bergamino [Captain
of the Milanese troops], and that the people insisted that the son of
Messer Galeotto should be installed as their Lord under the protection
of Florence. The Eight had already recalled their Commissary who had
been sent to Castrocaro and he had arrived at Faenza. This Illustrious
Signoria has decided to accept the guardianship and protection of the
State of Faenza for the ward, son of Messer Galeotto, and has thus
written, and has ordered troops to march towards Faenza, &c.[354]
I fear, Illustrious Lord, that this year is the beginning of the
thirteen disastrous months. All the condottieri who had been dismissed
by this Illustrious Signoria they now show a desire to re-engage,
indeed they have already begun to do so. My own feeling is that never
was a greater need of attempting a reconciliation between the State of
Milan and this Illustrious Signoria, and Your Excellency must strip to
your shirt and use all your wisdom. It is a fact that Messer Galeotto
was a soldier and a _raccomandato_ (under the protection) of this
Signoria, and to them belongs the guardianship of the State and the
boy more than to others, particularly as the people themselves demand
it.--Florence, June 5, 1488.[355]
... Yesterday I was with the Magnificent Lorenzo in S. Liberata [the
cathedral] for full two hours talking about setting the Magnificent
Messer Giovanni at liberty. His Magnificence replied that Your
Excellency could write to and treat with this Signoria as you
pleased, and also with His Magnificence, but that he had warned
Madonna Ginevra [wife of Giovanni Bentivoglio] to abstain from begging
others to intercede for his liberation; hinting broadly to me that
Messer Lodovico [Sforza] should not be asked to interfere ... that
until matters were arranged at Faenza Messer Giovanni must take
patience, as this Signoria would support the people of Faenza until
everything was in order.[356]
This morning the Illustrious Eight sent for me to announce that the
citadel of Faenza had been given up by the governor and _etiam_ the
departure of Madonna Francesca.--Florence, June 9, 1488.[357]
... After the Magnificent Lorenzo had seen Messer Giovanni
[Bentivoglio], who had been set at liberty and was in Florence, I went
to hear what had passed between them. His Magnificence told me there
had been much talk and that all the linen had been washed clean. It
seemed to him that Messer Giovanni was quite satisfied and bore no
rancour against this city or against himself, and had promised to
represent matters to Milan so that nothing more would be said about
Faenza.... At daylight the Magnificent Lorenzo left to take the baths
at Villa (Filetta). His wife is very ill,[358] and there is no hope of
her recovery.--Florence, July 21, 1488....[359]
Lorenzo de’ Medici _to_ Pope Innocent VIII.
_Sanctissime ac Beatissime Pater post Pedum oscula Beatorum
Vestrorum_,--Too often am I obliged to trouble and worry Your
Beatitude with accidents sent by fortune and divine interposition,
which as they are not to be resisted must be borne with patience.
But the death of Clarice, which has just occurred, my most dear and
beloved wife, has been and is so prejudicial, so great a loss, and
such a grief to me for many reasons, that it has exhausted my patience
and my power of enduring anguish, and the persecution of fortune,
which I did not think would have made me suffer thus. The deprivation
of such habitual and such sweet company has filled my cup and has made
me so miserable that I can find no peace. Nought is left but to pray
God that He may give me peace, and I have faith that in His infinite
love He will alleviate my sorrow and not overwhelm me with so many
disasters as I have endured during these last years. I humbly beg Your
Beatitude with all my heart to pray for me as I know how efficacious
are such prayers. I commend myself and place myself at Your Holy
Feet.--Filetta, July 31, 1488. Your devoted servant,
Laurentius de Medicis.[360]
Messer Aldrovandini, _Ambassador to the Republic of Florence, to the_
Duke Ercole d’Este
... I wrote that Madonna Clarice was ill, she died three days ago,
but I did not send the news at once as it did not seem to me of much
importance. Now that I am despatching the courier with letters from
Naples I inform Your Excellency. She died last Wednesday at 24 of
the clock and was buried without pomp that evening. The Magnificent
Lorenzo is at Filetta taking the waters and the baths and the doctors
advise him strongly not to come to Florence, also his friends have
written to persuade him to remain and finish his cure, and this he
will do. To-day, according to the custom here, the funeral service
will take place at 21 of the clock. The whole city and the ambassadors
of H.M., of Milan, and myself, have been invited. But before I
received the invitation I went with the Milanese ambassador to the
house of the Magnificent Lorenzo, and we condoled with Piero, the
Magnificent’s eldest son, in the names of our Lords in such words as
seemed fitted to the occasion.--Florence, August 1, 1488.[361]
Lorenzo’s grief for the loss of Clarice, to whom he was sincerely
but not passionately attached, was mitigated by the information that
his heart’s desire--the nomination of his second son Giovanni, a boy
of fourteen, to the cardinalate--would not be long delayed. The lad
was already abbot of Font Doulce, in the gift of the King of France,
of Passignano in Tuscany bestowed on him by the Pope, of Miramondo
given by Lodovico il Moro, and of the great abbey of Monte Cassino _in
commendam_ given to him by Ferrante, King of Naples. Innocent VIII.
had declared he would make no cardinals under the age of thirty, but
in March 1489 he yielded to Lorenzo’s entreaties, on the understanding
that the nomination was to be kept secret for three years, and was
exceedingly irate when it was divulged.
Messer Aldrovandini, _Ambassador of Ferrara to the Republic of
Florence, to_ Duke Ercole d’Este
... Some Corsicans on the pretence of buying wheat from the Castellan
of Monte-acute, a castle in the Maremma belonging to Siena, entered
in, slew the Castellan and seized the castle. The Sienese have sent a
Commissary with troops, and have applied for help to the Signoria of
Florence, who have ordered the Count of Pitigliano, their captain, to
send his men to the aid of the Sienese--January 10, 1489.[362]
... A courier has just arrived from the Count of Pitigliano to the
Magnificent Lorenzo stating that his son has bought the castle of
Monte-acuto from the Corsicans who had taken it, and he begs that his
son, not being a soldier in the pay of this Illustrious Signoria,
may be allowed to keep it, because together with many others in that
district it once was the property of his ancestors. Also that when his
own engagement ceases at the end of February he intends to recuperate
the others which are held by Siena. I wished to know how things
really stood from the Magnificent Lorenzo, and he assured me that the
engagement of the Count of Pitigliano would be prolonged and that he
will give up the castle. And this I believe....--Florence, January 21,
1489.[363]
Stefano, _a trusted servant of Piero de’ Medici_, _to_ Lorenzo de’
Medici
Magnificent Lorenzo,--In my letter of yesterday evening I described
the entry of Madonna the Duchess.[364] Now I tell you of the marriage.
This morning we attended the marriage mass in the cathedral, a most
beautiful and splendid ceremony as Your Magnificence will understand
after reading this. First all the Court and the guests assembled at
the castle. At 15 of the clock the Duke, my Lord Lodovico, the Barons
and other gentlemen, went to fetch Madonna the Duchess, and they all
mounted and left the castle in pairs. At the door was a canopy of
white damask emblazoned with the Duke’s arms, borne by forty doctors
all dressed in crimson satin with certain fur round their necks, and
their caps were also garnished with the same fur. Their Excellencies
the Duke and Madonna rode side by side to the Duomo under the canopy.
The mass was sung by the Duke’s choristers and celebrated by the
Bishop of Piacenza, and at the close the Bishop of Sanseverino gave
an appropriate address. Then the Duke gave the ring to the Duchess.
When all was finished the Illustrious Lord Duke knighted our Piero
Allamanni[365] and the Magnificent Bartolomeo Calcho, and bestowed on
Piero a robe of golden brocade as rich and beautiful as can be. Truly
a most honourable act. Messer Galeazzo and the Count di Cajaza buckled
on the spurs and the swords. Then the whole company mounted and
returned to the castle with great rejoicing and pomp. It is calculated
there were about five hundred horses. Thirty-five divers Orders of
friars and priests preceded the procession to the Duomo; sixty knights
clothed in gold brocade with their collars; fifty women, twenty-eight
were dressed in gold brocade with pearls, jewels, and fine necklaces;
sixty-two trumpeters, and twelve fifers. The distance from the castle
to the Duomo is 1200 paces and it was all covered in with white cloth,
and the walls on either side were hung with tapestry and festoons
of juniper and orange. Nothing finer was ever seen. All the doors
and windows were crowded with women and girls splendidly dressed,
and to avoid any crush or tumult all the streets leading into this
principal one were barred, while at every corner stood ten or twelve
guards. In the cathedral square were stationed two hundred Stradiots
(Greek troops) and crossbow-men on horseback. Everything was so well
managed that there was not the slightest disorder, a marvellous thing
considering the innumerable multitude of people in this city. It is
true that there was great rigour about bearing arms; no one, save our
own people who always went armed, were allowed to carry weapons.
His Excellency the Duke had a vest of raised gold brocade, richer and
finer than can be described, in his cap was a diamond ornament with
a pearl bigger than a hazelnut, quite round, of great value. On his
breast was a pendant with a ruby and a diamond above it, truly a most
admirable thing.
Her Excellency the Duchess also wore brocade, and on her head was a
garland of pearls with very fine jewels. There were many other women
most richly dressed, but I do not write their names because I do not
know them.
Messer Annibale had a robe of golden brocade with stripes of black
velvet and where it opened on his breast was an eagle in pearls which
made a good show, though it was not costly, but rather what one would
call pretty.
The Lords Lodovico and Galeotto, the Lord Ridolfo and the rest of the
Sforza family were dressed in brocade, and it is calculated that there
were some three hundred thus clothed in silver and gold. Of velvet and
satin I do not speak because even the cooks wore them.
The robe of our Piero with the bough embroidered on it[366] was much
admired and according to my thinking eclipsed all the others. To-day
their Excellencies sent for him, being desirous to see and examine it,
and indeed every one was loud in their praise. I know I have written
confusedly and without any order: by word of mouth if it pleases God,
we will enter into detail with more leisure than I now have, as I must
ride with Piero to Court. I have no more to say save that I commend
myself to Your Magnificence.--Milan, February 2, 1488 (1489).[367]
Petrus Bonus Avogarius, _artium et medicinæ doctor, to_ Lorenzo de’
Medici
_Magnifice ac poteus domine domine mi singularissime salutem
perpetuam_, &c.,--I have received the letter Your Magnificence sent
me through the Magnificent Aldovrandini, ambassador of the Duke of
Ferrara, and have understood what Your Magnificence writes about the
remedy you desire, for _in doloribus juncturarum_, entering into
details, and when and how, &c. To begin with, _ante omnium_ Your
Magnificence must be purged before the beginning of spring--that is,
before the middle of March. Then if pains are felt the part is to be
rubbed with the ointment made according to the recipe I have given
to Messer Aldovrandini, which he will send to Your Magnificence. The
pains will then cease, but should they return, and even if they do not
return, some medicine must be taken to carry off the offending matter.
My medicine is a conserve made up in solid form called _ellescof_,
half an ounce is to be taken at sunrise once a month, particularly
when Your Magnificence feels any pain. In order to prevent the return
of these pains you must get a stone called sapphire, and have it
set in gold, so that it should touch the skin. This must be worn on
the third finger of the left hand. If this is done the pains in the
joints, or gouty pains, will cease, because that stone has occult
virtues, and the specific one of preventing evil humours going to the
joints: _ego autem hoc expertus sum in me. Est enim divina res et
miraculosa._ Afterwards in the summer, in the month of August, I will
find celandine, which is a red stone that grows in the stomach of the
swallow. I will send it to Your Magnificence to be tied in a piece of
linen and sewn in your shirt under the left breast at the nipple. This
will have the same effect as the sapphire afore-mentioned, and thus
_Deo Duce_ Your Magnificence will be freed of and secure from every
pain in the joints. Messer Aldovrandini will see Your Magnificence,
and tell you fully about it. In order that Your Magnificence should be
acquainted with the future I send you herein enclosed my forecast for
the year 1488, and commend myself a thousand times to Your Excellency
whom may God keep in perfect health.--Ferrara, February 11, 1488
(1489).[368]
Lorenzo de’ Medici _to_ Piero Alamanni, _Florentine Ambassador at Rome_
Thanks be to God for the good news which I received yester morning at
nine from our Messer Giovanni [Tornabuoni]. It seems to me all the
greater because I expected less, and it is so far more than I deserve,
and so difficult of attainment, that it appeared almost impossible. I
have, indeed, reason ever gratefully to remember him who has worked so
hard, and I shall leave my gratitude recorded for those who come after
me, as this is the greatest honour that has ever befallen our house.
Let it suffice to you that I know this; most assuredly more than
three-fourths are due to your diligence, industry, and affection. But
we will speak of this another time. To the Holy Father I have written
a letter which is enclosed. I also write to Bala [Cardinal La Balue]
and Ascanio [Cardinal Sforza], the only ones from whom as yet I have
had letters. From you I expect full details about various things which
are mentioned below. I know not if our Holy Father was displeased at
the demonstrations of joy which were universal here. Never have I seen
more true and general rejoicing. Much more would have been done, only
I forbade it, but this I could not prevent. I say this, because Messer
Giovanni’s promotion being secret these demonstrations seemed contrary
to the intention, but it was a thing of such public notoriety in Rome
that people here can hardly be blamed for following the example set
there, and I could not refuse to accept the congratulations of all
these citizens, down to the very poorest. If it was unseemly it was
impossible to prevent, and I should be glad if you can explain this.
Also I much wish to know how to order Messer Giovanni’s future life;
how he is to dress, and what household he is to have, for I do not
desire to repay so great a boon by doing anything against the wishes
of our Holy Father. Meanwhile Messer Giovanni is in our house,
which has been full of people since yesterday. Let me know therefore
what I am to do. Also if he has occasion to write how is he to sign,
and what seal is he to use? About the Bull I know you will take all
precautions, and send it to me for the satisfaction of our friends.
I send you herein his height, but he seems to me to have grown since
yesterday, and to have changed. I trust to God that he will do honour
to all your labour, and that our Holy Father will every day be better
pleased with him. I wait to know whether I am to send Piero as I
wrote, for to me it seems this great gift demands that I should come
in person. I shall follow your advice in everything.--[March 14,
1489].[369]
Lorenzo de’ Medici _to_ Innocent VIII.