Part 9

Even as harmony delights us more at the moment it strikes our ears than when we remember tunes we have heard, and the actual sight of war moves us more than any recital thereof, thus the great deeds of noble and illustrious men animate our courage far more than the words of orators and philosophers who dispute about valour. For it is ordered by nature that things themselves should be more potent than their names, and that real events should move the soul with greater force than what is either false or may have happened. Therefore by imitating the deeds of Socrates we are taught better how to attain courage than by the art displayed by Aristotle in his writings on morality. And Christ solely by His example has done more to make us adopt a holy and virtuous way of life than all the orators and philosophers that ever existed. Therefore, my Lorenzo, whilst I applaud you for not despising the writings which teach morals, I beg you to prefer learning from reality instead of from description, as you would prefer a living thing from a dead. Particularly as you have decided to emulate that aged man on whom our Senate bestowed the title of Father of His Country. I mean the great Cosimo, your grandfather and my lord. A man prudent above all men, pious towards God, just and most charitable towards men, temperate in living, diligent in his care for his family, and still more so in the affairs of the Republic; a most honourable man who lived not only for himself, but for the good of his country and his God; whose soul was as humble as any man’s, and yet great and exalted. I, my Lorenzo, for more than twelve years gave myself up to philosophy with him. He was as acute in reasoning as he was prudent and strong in governing. Certainly I owe much to Plato, but must confess that I owe no less to Cosimo. Inasmuch as Plato only once showed me the Idea of courage, Cosimo showed it me every day. For the moment I will not mention his other qualities. Cosimo was as avaricious and careful of time as Midas of money; he spent his days parsimoniously, carefully counting every hour and avariciously saving every second; he often lamented the loss of hours. Finally, having like Solon the philosophor (even when occupied in most serious business) diligently studied philosophy, yet even till the last day when he departed from this world of shadows to go to light he devoted himself to the acquisition of knowledge. For when we had read together Plato’s book dealing with the _Origin of the Universe_ and the _Summum Bonum_ he, as you who were present well know, soon after quitted this life as though he was really going to enjoy that happiness which he had tasted during our conversations. Farewell, and as God fashioned Cosimo according to the Idea of the world, do you continue as you have begun to fashion yourself according to the Idea of Cosimo.

Marsilio Ficino.[86]

Brief Memorandum by Piero de’ Medici about his Father’s Death

I record that on the 1st August 1464, at the hour of 22-1/2, Cosimo di Giovanni de’ Medici quitted this life, having been a great sufferer from pains in his joints, although free from all other ills. Towards the end of his life he was afflicted with suppression of urine, which caused frequent fever. He was seventy-seven years of age, a tall, handsome man, and healthy, save for the above-mentioned ills. Of great prudence and still greater kindness, he was the most eminent and the richest citizen our city had possessed for many years, and was trusted and loved by the people above all other men. Indeed there is no record of any citizen who died at that age who was so kind and so famous, and was so universally mourned and with reason, for no man ever had to complain of him, but many have been helped, and succoured, and assisted, for his greatest pleasure lay in aiding others; not only relations and friends, but strangers; and what is more difficult to believe, and still more difficult to accomplish, those who were unfriendly. By such praiseworthy actions he made many persons his friends, who by their own fault or the fault of others had been his enemies. He was liberal, charitable, and merciful, and gave many alms during his life, not only in the city and the State, but in far distant places for things pertaining to religion, rebuilding churches, and giving for other worthy objects which had come under his notice. He was highly esteemed and believed in by all the lords and princes in and out of Italy. He filled all the greatest positions in our city, all foreign ones he declined; but he joined in the most important and honourable embassies sent by our Republic in his time. In the city his commerce enriched many men, besides procuring a large fortune to himself. He was not only a wise and cautious man of business, but a lucky one. As has been said, he died on the aforesaid day in our house at Careggi, after receiving all the sacraments of Holy Church with the utmost devotion and reverence. He would not make a will, but left everything in my hands. He was buried in the church of S. Lorenzo in the earth, in the sepulchre ordered by him, without any honours or pomp, as he would have none but the canons and priests of the said church, the friars of S. Marco, and the canons regular of the Badia of Fiesole, and neither more nor less wax torches than were used at an ordinary funeral. This he ordered with his last breath; saying that alms-giving and other good works ought to be performed while alive, as he had done, and were then of more use. Notwithstanding I, wishing to pay my filial debt to paternal piety, did what was requisite on account of those who remained, ordering alms and masses, as follows in this book.

_Note of the Funeral and of the Masses that are to be said in the Church of S. Lorenzo and in other places for the Soul of Cosimo di Giovanni de’ Medici, &c._

On the morning of August 2, which was Thursday, the funeral took place in the church of S. Lorenzo; for wax we paid lire 43-1/2; for torches, 94 lbs. of candles for putting in the church, and 13 small torches to be carried by the priests, in all 190-1/2 lbs., and for 16 torches of 97 lbs. for placing round the body.

_Note of the Masses and Offices celebrated for the Soul of Cosimo_

To the Chapter and priests of S. Lorenzo for an office lasting eight consecutive days, beginning on August 3rd; with 30 masses for each office, which make 8 offices, with 240 masses for the octave, we paid 16 lire for 6 torches of 33 lbs. and 10 lbs. of candles.

To the Chapter and priests of S. Lorenzo for an office beginning on August 11th, and continuing for thirty consecutive days, finishing on the 11th September, we paid 60 lire per torch of wax of 170 lbs.

Then follows a long list of members of the family, friends, dependants, and slaves, each of whom had from 30 to 10 braccia each of black cloth for the funeral; the women of the family had also black veils and kerchiefs.

Besides the many offices celebrated in Florence for the soul of Cosimo, the various Companies of Rome, Venice, Milan, Bruges, Geneva, London, and Avignon celebrated a great many; and liberal alms were given, and many prisoners were pardoned and set free from divers prisons.

_Memorandum of all the Men to whom was given Mourning for the said Funeral_

Yds. Ins. Pietro di Cosimo de’ Medici had dark clay cloth 8 29 Pier Francesco di Lorenzo had cloth 11 4 Lorenzo di Pietro di Cosimo had cloth and Giuliano 16 29 Messer Carlo di Cosimo, cloth 9 16 Niccodemo, Ducal Secretary, cloth 8 29 Messer Gentile di Giorgio, Florentine Canon, cloth 8 29 Maestro Mariotto di Niccolò, our doctor, cloth 8 29 Messer Bartolommeo Scala, Chancellor, cloth 8 29 Matteo di Ser Giovanni de’ Rossi, cloth 8 29 Fruosino d’Andrea da Panzano, cloth 8 29 Ser Francesco Cantansanchi, cloth 8 29 Ser Filippo di Cristofano, Piero’s Chancellor, cloth 8 29 Francesco di Giovanni Fracassini, Factor in Cafaggiuolo, cloth 6 1 Felice di Simone, Factor in Careggi, cloth 6 13 Piero di ..., Factor at Fiesole 6 13 Antonio di Meo Turco, Steward in Florence 6 13 Gugliemo di Francesco da Rovereto 6 13 Guasparri di Francesco da Vicchio 6 13 Piero di Domenico, surnamed Malerba 6 13 Prandino di Piero da Lodi 6 13 Matteo di ... da Vicchio, Barber 6 13 Giovanni di Giovanni, German 6 13 Piero d’Angiolino of Brieg, German 6 13 Donnino di Jacopo, who is in Cafaggiuolo. 6 13 Andrea di Piero from Vienna 6 13

_Memorandum of all the Women who received Mourning for the said funeral_

Yds. Ins. Madonna Contessina, wife of Cosimo, had cloth, and besides eight veils and two kerchiefs 20 8 Madonna Lucrezia, wife of Piero di Cosimo, cloth, and besides two veils and one kerchief 8 29 Maria Nannina, daughter of Piero di Cosimo, cloth 8 29 Madonna Ginevra, wife of the late Giovanni di Cosimo, cloth, and besides two veils and one kerchief 8 29 Madonna Ginevra, wife of the late Lorenzo de’ Medici, cloth, and besides two veils and one kerchief 8 29 Laudomine, wife of Pier Francesco de’ Medici, cloth, and two veils and one kerchief 8 29 M. Lisabetta, wife of Sozo da Vernio, cloth, and two veils and one kerchief 8 29 M. Luisa, wife of Alexandro da Vernio, cloth, and two veils and one kerchief 8 29 M. Marta, wife of Gualtrotto da Vernio, cloth, and two veils and one kerchief 8 29

_Maids_

M. Marta, widow of Stefano da Villa nuova 6 13 M. Maddalena di Giovanni di Benavenni 6 13 M. Maddalena, widow of Martino da Barberino 6 13 M. Maddalena, widow of Viviano da Cafaggiuolo 6 13 M. Bartola, widow of ----. 6 13

_Slaves_

Caterina 6 13 Crestina 6 13 Caterina 6 13 Tita 6 13

Cosimo de’ Medici died at Careggi on August 1, 1464. His family, as has been said, respected his wish that he should be buried as a private citizen, without any public and official pomp. His fellow-citizens nevertheless resolved to commemorate in some special fashion the decease of the real head of their State. A minute setting forth his services was incorporated in the _Acta_ of the Ten, who also passed a law declaring that he was to be afterwards known by the title of _Pater Patriæ_, and appointed Donato Acciaiuoli to commend its adoption to the people in a set oration. The law was adopted by acclamation, and Cosimo is always known as Cosimo Pater Patriæ.

FOOTNOTES:

[4] _Le Istorie Fiorentine_, Niccolò Machiavelli, p. 240. Firenze, 1900.

[5] _Vita di Cosimo_, Vespasiano, p. 254. Symonds’ translation, _Renaissance in Italy_, ii. 127. London, 1897.

[6] Ibid., ii. 228.

[7] Ginevra Cavalcanti, wife of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Cosimo’s brother, and her son, Pier Francesco.

[8] Lorenzo de’ Medici, Cosimo’s brother.

[9] Crusaders returning to Italy brought with them medals with the effigy of S. Helen. These were called Santelena, and gradually the name was given to other medals.

[10] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza xi. No. 233.

[11] Letter is addressed on the outside of the sheet:

[spectab]ili viro Averardo de [Medic]is Oratori florentinorum [Ferrari] e fratri honorando.

(_Archivio Mediceo innanzi il Principato_, Filza 2, No. 306.)

[12] It is impossible even to guess at who “Ser P., the godfather,” or “the godmother” are. As has been already mentioned, Cosimo often alludes to people by nicknames or initials.

[13] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ii. No. 302.

[14] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza v. Avanzi, No. 9.

[15] Cosimo’s brother.

[16] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ii. No. 588-89.

[17] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ii. No. 612.

[18] Cosimo de’ Medici’s younger brother.

[19] _Magni Cosmi Medicei Vita_, Angelo Fabronio, ii. 28.

[20] Or Alberghettino, a small cell about eight feet by six, in the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio.

[21] A castle near Cafaggiuolo.

[22] Cosimo’s oration is not in his diary, but is given by Fabroni, _Magni Cosmi Medicei Vita_, Angelo Fabronio. Pisis, 1784, ii. 75.

[23] To frequent the Palace of the Signoria was esteemed in Florence the sign of an intriguing politician. Giovanni had advised his sons “to be chary of frequenting the Palace” (see p. 6).

[24] Eugenius IV. was a fugitive in Florence.

[25] _Le Istorie Fiorentine_, Niccolò Machiavelli, p. 220. Firenze, 1900.

[26] _Sermoni Evangelici_, Sacchetti, p. 94.

[27] A slave, Margherita, ten years of age, is thus described by her owner Lapini: _Pellis ulivigne cum margine magno in testa apud cilium sinistrum, margine in gena sinistra prope nasum, naso rincagnato, aurichulis olim foratis, hodie reclusis, resaldatis_ (register of June 18, 1367). She cost twenty-nine golden florins. Another, Exilana, a Tartar, is described as of: _Pellis ulivigne, cum margine in cornu sinistra, parva, et alia margine in templa dextra, oculis quasi suffornatis et litiginibus per faciem_ (register of April 1, 1389.) Many are described as _bucterata vaiolo per totam faciem_, and only one is _pulcra corpere_. In the bill of sale they are generally guaranteed, _sana et integra omnibus suis membris tam occultis quam manifestis, et specialiter a morba caduca_, which seems to show that the slaves were subject to epilepsy.

[28] _Memoriale del Baldovinetti_, Cod. Cart. Magliabecchiana.

[29] _Lettere di una Gentildonna_, &c., p. 504.

[30] Most of the facts are taken from _Le Schiave Orientali a Firenze nei Secoli XIV. e XV._, Saggio dì Agostino Zanelli. Firenze, 1885.

[31] Perhaps an abbreviation of Cornaro.

[32] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza xiv. No. 469.

[33] _Le Istorie Fiorentine_, N. Machiavelli, p. 242. Firenze, 1900.

[34] Alluding to the old proverb, _Fiorentini ciechi, Senesi matti, Pisani traditori, Lucchesi signori_. Niccolò Fortebraccio, formerly in the service of the Florentine Republic, was the great rival of Francesco Sforza. These two condottieri had both seized on separate portions of the Marches, and while Sforza’s fortress was Ancona, Assisi was that of Fortebraccio. The two captains fought for the mastery in the Marches, and in the end Fortebraccio was defeated and slain.

[35] _Cosmi Vita_, &c., _op. cit._ ii. 110 (Ex Filza 18).

[36] _Cosmi Vita_, &c., _op. cit._ ii. 133.

[37] _Cosmi Vita_, &c., _op. cit._ ii. 131.

[38] Ibid., ii. 126.

[39] _Cosmi Vita_, &c., _op. cit._ ii. 124.

[40] Ginevra Cavalcanti, wife of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Cosimo’s younger brother.

[41] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza xvi. No. 8.

[42] _Cosmi Vita._, op. cit. ii. 135.

[43] _Cosmi Vita_, op. cit. ii. 161.

[44] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza viii. No. 336.

[45] Addressed on the outside of the letter: Giovanni di Chosimo de Medici in Sienna o al Bagnio a Petriulo. (_Archivio Mediceo innanzi il Principato_, Filza 8, No. 336.)

[46] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza. v. Avanzi, No. 274.

[47] _VII Lettere di Contessina Bardi nei Medici_, per nozze Zanichelli-Mariotti. Edizione di lxxv. esemplari. September 6, 1886.

[48] A long, loose robe, generally tied round the waist, worn by Florentine citizens in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. _Mettersi il lucco_ became a common saying for putting on fine clothes.

[49] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ix. No. 262.

[50] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza xvi. No. 30.

[51] The letter is addressed in a different handwriting: Spettabili Viro Piero di Chosimo de’ Medici, Magnifico onorando in Firenze. (_Arch._, &c., Filza 13, No. 20.)

[52] Her younger son.

[53] VII. _Lettere_, &c., _op. cit._

[54] Ibid.

[55] Cosimo’s illegitimate son by a slave-girl.

[56] “Pieve,” chief church of a parish, and the only one where baptisms took place.

[57] _Cosmi Vita_, op. cit. ii. 194.

[58] _VII. Lettere_, &c., _op. cit._

[59] _VII. Lettere_, &c., _op. cit._

[60] Only son of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Cosimo’s brother, who was dead.

[61] _VII. Lettere_, &c., _op. cit._

[62] _Istorie di Giovanni Cambi_, Delizie degli Eruditi Toscani, xx. 273.

[63] Ibid., _op. cit._, xx. 281.

[64] A piece torn out of letter.

[65] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ix. No. 147.

[66] Ibid., No. 171.

[67] _Donne Medicei avanti il principato_, Berta Felice, Rassegna Nazionale, 1907.

[68] _Ricordi di Firenze dell anno 1459_, di Autore Anonimo, a cure di Guglielmo Volpi. Città di Castello, S. Lapi, MDCCCCVII.

[69] _Istorie di Giovanni Cambi._

[70] A piece of the letter is torn out.

[71] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza xvii. No. 124.

[72] Husband of Bianca de’ Medici, Piero’s daughter.

[73] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ix. No. 509.

[74] _VII. Lettere_, op. cit.

[75] _Cosmi Vita_, op. cit. ii. 234.

[76] _Cosmi Vita_, op. cit. ii. 235.

[77] _Cosmi Vita_, op. cit. ii. 243.

[78] _Lucrezia Tornabuoni, Donna di Piero di Cosimo de’ Medici_, G. Levantini-Pieroni, p. 37. Firenze, 1888.

[79] A piece torn out of the letter.

[80] For an account of the Consuls of the Sea, see _Pisa_, “Mediæval Towns.” Dent, London, 1909.

[81] A piece torn out of the letter.

[82] _Arch. Med. ante Prin._, Filza ii. No. 546.

[83] _Cosmi Vita_, op. cit. ii. 246.

[84] A monastery built by Cosimo not far from Cafaggiuolo, in the forest.

[85] _Cosmi Vita_, &c., _op. cit._ ii. 251.

[86] _Epistole Marsilii Ficini Florentini._ XV Decembris MCCCCXXXXIIII. Florentiæ.

PIERO DI COSIMO DE’ MEDICI

(1416-1469)

Pietro, or, as he was commonly called, Piero de’ Medici, was forty-eight when his father died in 1464, and had neither the moral nor the physical strength necessary for his position. He was a martyr to gout, from whence his surname _il Gottoso_. Kindly and indolent by nature, he could be stern, terse, and eloquent when roused, and his political insight was keen. The commencement of his reign, if one may use the word, was unfortunate. Cosimo on his deathbed had recommended his son to consult Diotisalvi Neroni, and to follow his advice. The shrewd old man had been singularly deceived in his estimate of the character of the man he bade Piero take as his right hand. Machiavelli’s account of the conspiracy which so nearly wrecked the power of the house of Medici is as follows:

“Messer Diotisalvi, moved more by his own ambition than by affection for Piero or gratitude for the benefits he had received from Cosimo, thought it would be easy to ruin Piero’s credit, and to deprive him of the authority inherited from his father. He therefore gave him advice which appeared most honest and reasonable, but in reality was meant to lead to his ruin. Showing him the disorder in his affairs, and how much money was absolutely necessary to save his own credit and that of the State, he declared that the most honourable way to remedy his difficulties would be to call in the debts due to his father by both foreigners and citizens. For Cosimo, in order to gain partisans in Florence and friends abroad, had been most generous in the use of his riches, and the moneys owing to him amounted to a very considerable sum. Such counsel seemed good and honest to Piero, who wished to remedy his affairs with his own means. But as soon as he demanded repayment of these loans the citizens, as though he wanted to take what was theirs and not what was his own, complained loudly, and showed small respect in speaking ill of him, and accusing him of ingratitude and avarice. When Messer Diotisalvi saw the universal disfavour his advice had brought on Piero he joined Messer Luca Pitti, Messer Agnolo Acciaiuoli, and Niccolò Soderini, and they conspired to deprive Piero of his credit and his authority. They were influenced by various motives. Messer Luca aspired to fill the position held by Cosimo, having become so great a man that he disdained to obey Piero. Messer Diotisalvi, knowing that Messer Luca was unfit to be the head of the government, thought that once Piero was out of the way the management must of necessity fall to him. Niccolò Soderini desired that the city should enjoy more freedom, and be governed according to the wishes of the magistrates, while Messer Agnolo had private reasons for hating the Medici. Some time before his son Raffaello had married Alessandra de’ Bardi, whose dower was very large. Owing either to her own misconduct, or to the faults of others, she was maltreated by her father-in-law and her husband; so one night Lorenzo d’Ilarione, her kinsman, moved to pity for the girl, with many men-at-arms, took her away from the house of Messer Agnolo. The Acciaiuoli complained of the insult done to them by the Bardi, and the matter being laid before Cosimo he decreed that the dower was to be repaid to Alessandra, and that she was to decide whether she would or would not return to her husband. Messer Agnolo did not think that in delivering this judgment Cosimo had behaved as a friend, and not being able to do anything against him he determined to take revenge on his son. The conspirators, though animated by such diverse motives, agreed to give the same reason publicly, declaring that they desired the city to be ruled by magistrates and not by the uncontrolled will of a few men. The hatred felt against Piero and the reasons for attacking him, were increased by the bankruptcy of many merchants for which he was blamed; his unexpected demand to be repaid having caused these men to fail, and thus brought great discredit and loss upon the city.”[87]

[Illustration:

_Anderson_

PIERO DI COSIMO DE’ MEDICI.

_Detail from the fresco by Benozzo Gozzoli in the Chapel of Palazzo Riccardi, Florence._]

Florence was divided into two camps, the Party of the Hill, so-called because Luca Pitti’s palace was being erected on the highest part of the city, and the Party of the Plain, because the palace of the Medici was on the flat. “While things were in this disorder,” continues Machiavelli, “the time arrived for renewing the chief magistrate, and Niccolò Soderini was elected Gonfalonier of Justice.” But Niccolò wasted his two months’ tenure of office in futile attempts to “reform” the government, accomplished nothing, and quitted office a discredited man. The conspirators then determined to murder Piero as he returned to Florence from his villa of Careggi. He was only saved by the presence of mind of his young son Lorenzo, who preceded him on horseback, and noticed armed men loitering on the road. Lorenzo rode quietly on announcing that Piero was close behind him, but sent back in hot haste a messenger to order his father’s litter to take an unfrequented lane. Luca Pitti, perceiving that if the Medici were swept away Neroni and not himself would be the head of the Republic, betrayed his fellow-conspirators, and made peace with Piero. His defection was a death-blow to the conspiracy and to his own fortunes. Neroni and Niccolò Soderini fled to Venice, Acciaiuoli to Siena first and then to Naples, and the power of the Medici was once more firmly established.

Piero inherited his father’s love of letters and of art. He was the first to employ Luca della Robbia, who decorated the ceiling of his study in the Medici palace and made tiles for the floor, which, as Vasari says, “was a new thing and most excellent for summer.” Luca also made the vaulted roof of the marble chapel of the Crucifix inside the ancient church of S. Miniato a Monte, erected by Piero’s orders by his father’s faithful friend, Michelozzo Michelozzi.