Part 22

Most Serene and Excellent Lord my King: after humble recommendation, &c.,--I have been informed during the last few days that your Majesty wrote me a letter full Of affection and benevolence at that terrible time when my beloved brother Giuliano was so cruelly torn from me in the centre of the church, and when I was wounded. This letter, I know not why, never reached me; would to God it had, for the emotion evinced by so great a King would have been a great comfort to me when I was oppressed by such a terrible sorrow. Had I only known that the letter had been sent by your Majesty and delayed in the journey, it would have been no small comfort, and I should have at once thanked your Majesty for such a proof of kindly feeling towards me. Even now I send most heartfelt thanks and express my deep obligation. I desire nothing more than that an opportunity may arise for me to show my devotion to your Majesty. It is far beyond my power to repay not alone the letter, but even the slightest sign from so great a King, all I can do is to place myself entirely at your Majesty’s orders. I commend myself ever to your Majesty O my Lord and King, and beg to be taken under the shadow of your wings. Your Majesty is I know fully acquainted with our affairs. We are preparing for war and working hard to be able to resist the forces of the enemy. Resist we shall, as I hope, because we shall not fail to ourselves, and I trust God will aid the good cause. Again I commend myself to your Majesty, whom may God preserve in happiness.--Florence, April 3, 1479. Your Serene Majesty’s most devoted servant,

Lorenzo de’ Medici.[247]

Agnolo Poliziano, _from Cafaggiuolo, to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici _at Florence_

Agnolo Poliziano to his patron Lorenzo de’ Medici greeting.

Our little friend Piero writes you about what is happening here at Cafaggiuolo; it is my part to explain that his last letter was not, like the previous ones, submitted to me for suggestions while he composed it and then a fair copy made. It was completed in one sitting, as the saying is, and by himself alone. I only suggested in course of conversation what he should write about. The words and the composition are all his own.

I am training him in such a way that I have no fear but that he will fulfil the expectations I have formed of him, although you fear his excessive impetuosity.

As for Giovanni, you will have seen for yourself. His mother has taken it upon herself to change his course of reading to the Psalter, a thing I did not approve of. While she was absent he had made wonderful progress. He was already able to select, without any help from me, all the letters and syllables in his exercise in composition.

My only petition to God is that I may be able to prove to you some day my loyalty, diligence, and patience. This I would willingly purchase even at the expense of death.

I omit much lest I should weary your busy mind.

Farewell and remember me with all the rest.--From Cafaggiuolo, April 6, 1479.[248]

Piero de’ Medici _to his father_ Lorenzo

_Magnifice pater mi honorande_, &c.,--Till this day I have not written to you because nothing of importance has happened. A few days ago three well-armed boats arrived in the port of Cafaggiuolo from the village of Mozzete to offer us their services, and we made them welcome. We do not know what to do; I wish you would send us the best sporting dog that can be had. Nothing more. We all commend ourselves to you, I above all. I beg you will guard yourself from the plague and that you will remember us because we are little and have need of you. We are all well, thanks be to God, and so is Giuliano. I attend to my studies and the master commends himself to you.--Cafaggiuolo, April 16, 1479.[249]

Agnolo Poliziano _to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici

_Magnifice mi Domine_,--I am here at Careggi, having left Cafaggiuolo by command of Madonna Clarice. The cause and the manner of my departure I should wish, indeed I beg of you as a grace, to explain by word of mouth, it is too long to write. When you have heard me I think you will admit that all the fault is not mine. Out of respect, and not wishing to come to Florence _præter jussa tua_, I am here to await the commands of your Magnificence as to what I am to do, because I am yours even if the whole world was against me. If I have had but small success in serving you it was not that I did not serve with all my heart. I commend myself to Your Magnificence, at whose commands I am most entirely.--Careggi, May 6, 1479. Ever Your Magnificence’s servant,

Angelus Pol.[250]

Piero de’ Medici _at Cafaggiuolo to his father_ Lorenzo (_in Latin_)

Magnificent Father,--Lucrezia and I are trying who can write best. She writes to grandmother Lucrezia, I, my father, to you. The one who obtains what he asks for will win. Till now Lucrezia has had all she wished for. I, who have always written in Latin in order to give a more literary tone to my letters, have not yet had that pony you promised me; so that I am laughed at by all. See to it therefore, Your Magnificence, that she should not always be the winner. The war as far as I understand goes in our favour this year, but we do not quite understand how the sword that wounded us is to be broken if only the sheath is hit. For if the enemy makes war on us even outside his own country, on what does he rely for again attacking us another year when tired out. We only hope for peace through victory. Scipio is to be driven to Carthage in order to get Hannibal out of Italy. We beseech you, we your children, to have the more care for yourself the more you see that the enemy rather lays hidden snares than dares open warfare.

I commend Martino to you, who aids me not to forget my Greek and to improve my Latin.[251] He would have been named chaplain of S. Lorenzo by his patrons, Antonio and Lorenzo Tornabuoni, had not Your Magnificence recommended another. It is but just that they should bestow their patronage on their own people, and not be prevented in so doing by you, who in general give to others what is yours. I hope therefore to have letters recommending my Martino to those to whom he has already recommended himself. God save you.--26th May 1479.

Your son Piero.[252]

Clarice de’ Medici _to her husband_ Lorenzo

_Magnifice Conjux_, &c.,--I hear the plague is committing more ravages in Florence than usual. Your wife and children pray with all their might that you will take care of yourself, and if you can, with due precaution, come here and see the festival we should be greatly consoled. I should be glad not to be turned into ridicule by Franco, as was Luigi Pulci, and also that Messer Agnolo [Poliziano] should not be able to say that he will live in your house whether I like it or no, and that you have put him into your own room at Fiesole. You know I told you that if you wished him to remain I was perfectly content, and although I have endured a thousand insults if it has been by your permission I will be patient, but this I can hardly believe. I quite understand that Ser Niccolò has entreated me to make peace with him. The children are all well and long to see you, I long even more, for I have no other torment than that you should be at Florence during such times. I commend myself always to you.--Cafaggiuolo, May 28, 1479.[253]

Lorenzo de’ Medici _to his mother_ Lucrezia _in Florence_

Most beloved Mother,--You will have heard from Ser Niccolò that there has been a case of plague at Cafaggiuolo, I have nothing more to add. For precaution sake we left there at once and came to Trebbio. I enclose a list of things Messer Stefano has prescribed in order to be prepared should anything happen. Please God it may all end in nothing. Do not be at all anxious. No more.--Trebbio, May 31, 1479.

Your Lorenzo.

Send the things here quickly.[254]

Piero de’ Medici _at Cafaggiuolo to his father_ Lorenzo

Magnificent Father mine,--That pony does not come, and I am afraid that it will remain so long with you that Andrea will cause it to change from a beast to a man, instead of curing its hoof.

We are all well and studying. Giovanni is beginning to spell. By this letter you can judge where I am in writing; as for Greek I keep myself rather in exercise by the help of Martino than make any progress. Giuliano laughs and thinks of nothing else; Lucrezia sews, sings, and reads; Maddalena knocks her head against the wall, but without doing herself any harm; Luisa begins to say a few little words; Contessina fills the house with her noise. All the others attend to their duties, and nothing is wanting to us save your presence. We hear that things are better than last year, and hope that you being well there will be nought but victory in the future. Strong and brave men are not good at subterfuges but shine in open warfare. Thus we confide in you, as we well know that besides your goodness and valour you bear in mind the heritage left to us by our ancestors, and the injury and outrages we have endured. God save you--1479.

Your son Piero.[255]

Piero de’ Medici _at Cafaggiuolo to his father_ Lorenzo

Magnificent Father mine,--I fear that some misfortune has happened to that pony, for had it been well I know you would have sent it to me as you promised. I beg of you therefore as a grace that you will take this fear from me; for I think of it night and day, and until the pony comes I shall have no peace. In case that one cannot come be pleased to send me another. For, as I have already written to you, I am here on foot, and sometimes it is necessary for me to go in the company of my friends. See to this therefore, Your Magnificence.

I am studying hard, and all here attend to their duties. It only needs that you should diligently guard yourself from the plague and from every other danger of death, and that you should come here sometimes to see us. God save you.--1479.

Your son Piero.[256]

Piero de’ Medici _at Gagliano to his father_ Lorenzo

_Magnifico Patri meo_,--I cannot tell you, Magnificent Father, how glad I am to have the pony, and how his arrival incites me to work. If I desire to praise him, _Ante diem clause componet vesper Olympo_. He is so handsome and so perfect that the trumpet of Maronius would hardly suffice to sing his praises. You may think how I love him;

## particularly when his joyous neighs resound and rejoice all the

neighbourhood. I owe you and I send you many thanks for such a fine gift, and I shall try and repay you by becoming what you wish. Of this be sure. I promise you that I shall try with all my heart. We are all well, and we all long for your arrival. God save you.--1479.[257]

Your son Piero at Gagliano.[258]

Antonio Pucci _to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici _at Cafaggiuolo_

_Magnifice Frater honorande_,--That priest from Imola has been interrogated. He says Count Girolamo [Riario] sent him here to offer, on the pretext that he had been badly treated, to poison the Count; thinking that we, desiring the Count’s death, would entrust him with poison. We were then to be accused to the Pope, and in the Consistory, and the Count was to show the poison, saying, “See, Lorenzo de’ Medici has attempted to poison me.” He also offered to consign into our hands one of the gates of Imola in order to accuse us before the Pope and the Cardinals so that they might imagine that we were going to make war on the Pope. He has been tortured and shall be put to the question again in order to get everything out of him. God guard thee.--Florence, June 18, 1479.

Till to-day there have been eighteen deaths and fourteen new cases [of plague]. Benedetto Nori is one.[259]

Lucrezia de’ Medici (_daughter of Lorenzo_) _to her grandmother_ Lucrezia

Magnificent and loved as a Mother,--I send you news that we are all well; and I hope you are so too, may God keep us so. I long to see you and pray you to come, for it seems to me a thousand years since I last saw you. Mona Lucrezia mine, I wish you would send me a sash of the _palio_ of Sancto Giovanni, or better still that one from Volterra which was given to you when you stood godmother to me. Piero and Maddalena commend themselves to you and Giovanni begs you to send him some sugar-plums, he says that last time you sent very few. I pray you to answer, for reading your letters is a great comfort to me. No more. Christ guard you from all ill.--Written on July 7, 1479.

Your Lucrezia in Cafaggiuolo.[260]

Nannina Rucellai _to her mother_ Lucrezia de’ Medici

To the honoured hands of the Magnificent Lady Lucrezia de’ Medicis at Careggi.

Dearest Mother,--I must tell you that Bernardo has dismissed the tutor to my great sorrow, as I do not know where to send him. At Figline, from whence he comes, the plague is very bad; in his house two of his brothers are dead and his father is ill. Vincenzo has not a farthing, if he had anything he spent it here in clothes, and now we repay him with “Go in peace.” Nothing could be more displeasing to me. Whoso wants to do as they wish should not be born a woman. I should be so glad if you will ask Lorenzo, if not inconvenient, to give him shelter where he would not be in the way for two or three months until the plague has ceased. I do not think he is capable of teaching any save the little ones, whom he might look after and teach. You could not do me a greater pleasure, as it will show that I have some one who is willing to oblige me; there are others who do the reverse. If during this time he should be in need of a little money for his clothes I will provide it from my own pocket, for he seems to me in a bad plight. Here I could give him nothing as I had no money. I should be glad if any small sum comes into your hands or any small living you would help him, for I do not like to repay him with ingratitude. We are all well. I commend myself to you, commend me to Lorenzo and kiss Giulio for me. Christ guard you and see that you guard yourself.--In Casentino, July 12, 1479.

Your Nannina.[261]

Bianca de’ Pazzi _to her mother_ Lucrezia de’ Medici _at Careggi_

Dearest and most honoured Mother,--I have had a letter from you which has greatly consoled me as I see you are all in good health,

## particularly you and Lorenzo, I pray God to keep you so for many

years. I have not written before as I feared to importune you and also because I have sent often to your house to Marco for malvasy and for the book of St. Margaret, all of which I have received; and from him I heard news of you. I should have sent to you [at Careggi] but thought that on account of the plague you would keep close guard. We have had it near here, but by the grace of God it is now finished. So I did not send as I ought to have done. As I told you in Florence I mean to lie in here for I know you have enough on your hands, and I want for nothing. If I am worse than usual which I do not expect as by the grace of God I am very well, I am in the ninth month now and as I said well, should anything unforeseen happen there is Maestro Giorgio close by who fled here from the plague. So be in no anxiety about me for I feel sure God will assist me as ever, if it so pleases Him. Of the family in the Mugello I hear good news, which rejoices me, and also of Nannina,[262] who they tell me passed along the road going to the Casentino. I am so glad you are all of you well, which is not little to say in such times as these, for I was and I am anxious about you as you said you had to see so many people. I wonder you were not somewhat afraid, but our Lord God will not abandon us entirely. Do persuade Lorenzo to take more care, for I hear he has no fear at all[263] ... on all sides, and also to beware of his enemies. Until this sickness is past he ought to put his pleasures on one side; if he lives he will have more than now, for I trust God will recompense him for the ill he has received. I commend myself to him, as do these children, and Guglielmo commends himself to you and to Lorenzo. By the grace of God we are all well.--Alla Torre, July 15, 1479.

Your Bianca.[264]

Agnolo Poliziano _to_ Lucrezia de’ Medici _at Careggi_

Magnificent Madonna mine,--By Tommaso I send back your lauds, sonnets, and poems in terza rima, which you lent me when I was with you the other day. All these women were delighted with them and Madonna Lucrezia, or rather Lucrezia, has learnt all the lauds and many sonnets of _the_ Lucrezia by heart.[265] There is also a little white book in manuscript which I beg you to give to your and my good Giovanni Tornabuoni, it contains certain rules his children asked me to give them. I am also writing to Giovanni, to the children, and to their master. I pray you to give him the letters and to commend me to him, for I set great store and count much on the affection he shows me. I have been to see Lorenzo several times and cannot describe how well he received me. Do try and discover what are his intentions with regard to me; it would surprise me if Piero were allowed to lose time, it would be a great pity. I hear that Messer Bernardo, brother of Ser Niccolò, is with him, but I do not know how his teaching will combine with mine.[266] If he is to remain permanently, then of a truth I can assume that the bubble has burst. But I cannot believe it, and therefore beg you to find out what are Lorenzo’s intentions, then I shall know whether I am to arm for a joust only or for war. It will be easy for you and I shall always be at the beck and call of Lorenzo as I am sure he knows better than I, and that he will put me in an honourable position as he always has done and as my fidelity and good services merit. I am working hard. Till now I have not been able to send you the promised book as one copy is at Florence and the other at the binder’s who has kept it a long time. As soon as I have it I will send it. I commend myself to you and I pray you to commend me to Lorenzo.--Fiesole, July 18, 1479. Your Magnificence’s servant,

Angelus Polizianus.[267]

The following extracts from Vespucci’s letters to the “Ten” allude to the one victory gained by the Florentine troops over the Prefect of Rome, nephew of Pope Sixtus IV., near Lake Trasimene during the war between Florence and the Pope with his ally the King of Naples, in 1479. But the fortune of war soon changed. The Florentines were beaten at Poggibonsi, within sixteen miles of Florence, by the Duke of Calabria. Fortunately for her, Duke Alfonso stopped to lay siege to the small walled town of Colle which held out for two months and inflicted considerable loss on his army. Meanwhile the summer, generally considered in the fifteenth century to be the only proper time for fighting, was over; the Duke offered a three months’ truce, withdrew his troops to winter quarters, and Florence was saved.

Guidantonio Vespucci, _Legatus in Epistolis at Paris, to the_ Ten of the Balìa _in Florence_

When the King of France heard the news he gave signs of great joy, kneeling as is his wont three times and kissing the ground, thanking God. All that day he talked of nought else with his people, saying: “My friends the Florentines and my cousin Lorenzo de’ Medici will have their revenge this year....” You heard how the King’s Majesty had received news of the glorious victory of our troops near Perugia and how delighted he was, so that according to what I hear from court he showed extreme pleasure both by actions and in words, to the great content of the Magnificent Monsignor of Argenton[268] who, as though he had been a born Florentine, continually _tamquam tuba exprobando_ the acts of the Pontiff and of King Ferrante, goes about Paris proclaiming our victory; particularly to those ecclesiastics whom I have met sometimes at supper with his Lordship.

Vespucci adds that Louis XI. refused to receive a certain Raffaello Ballerini sent by the Pope to explain his actions, and that when King Ferrante asked that his galleys might use the ports of Nice and Provence for the purpose of attacking the Florentines, the Duke of Savoy by command of the King of France refused his consent.--1479.[269]

Lorenzo de’ Medici _to_ Girolamo Morelli, _Florentine Ambassador at Milan_