courfe of it, which lafted five years; and it was no fooner ended, but diffatisfied with the Peace, and defirous of making a further difplay of their ftrength, they marched out with an army and laid fiege to Lucca.mise od vib I can fee no reason, therefore, why the caufes and progress of the civil Diffenfions which happened in this Republic, fhould not be thought worthy of a minute and particular relation. And if those noble Authors were deterred from it only by the fear of hurting the memory of fome whom they should neceffarily be obliged to speak of, they widely mistook the matter, and fhew they were not fufficiently aware of that latent ambition which is naturally implanted in all men, and their defire of having their own names and thofe of their Ancestors tranfmitted to Pofterity. Nor did they recollect that many, who never had any opportunity of Signalizing themselves by virtuous and laudable atchievements, have endeavoured to perpetuate their memory by the most flagitious and detestable means [d]. Neither did they confider that tranfactions which carry an air of greatnefs along with them, fuch as thofe of States and Governments, ftill reflect more honour than infamy upon the Actors, what ends foever they have had, or in what light foever they are reprefented. These confiderations prevailed upon me to alter my firft Plan, and to begin my History from the very foundation of our City. And fince it is not my intention to tranfcribe what has been already published by others, I shall relate such things only as happened within the City to the year 1434, taking no further notice of foreign tranfactions than what will be abfolutely neceffary for a better understanding of what occurred at home: after which period, I fhall give a diftin&t account both of one and the other. And that the Reader may have a clearer and more extenfive prospect both ways in this Hiftory, before I come to treat of the affairs of Florence, I will shew by what means Italy became fubject to those Princes who governed it at that time: all which will be included in the four first books. The first shall contain a brief recital of the principal events that happened in Italy from the declension of the Roman Empire to the year [d] As Eroftratus, who burnt the Temple of Diana at Ephefus, which was reckoned the most magnificent ftructure in the world. A great author obferves, that," the love of riches and pleasure is not fo predominant amongst mankind, in general, as the thirst of fame. 2 1434. ut of -Ο e 1434. The fecond, a general account of affairs from the foundation of Florence, to the war that was commenced against the Pope, after the Expulfion of the Duke of Athens. The third will conclude with the death of Ladislaus King of Naples: and in the fourth we shall arrive at the Year 1434. After which, we shall give a particular Narrative of all proceedings, both within and without the City, till we come down to our own times. CONTENTS FIRST VOLUME. The History of FLORENCE, in eight Books. The PRINCE; to which is fubjoined, Chapter by Chapter, The ANTI-MACHIAVEL, or, EXAMEN DU PRINCE; a critical Effay upon that Work: Written originally in French, by the present |