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consent of the people； and not by force； of which he would not hear on
any account。 They then endeavored in the councils to establish a new
balia； but did not succeed。 On this the grandees again came to Cosmo；
and most humbly begged he would assemble the people in a general
council or parliament； but this he refused； for he wished to make them
sensible of their great mistake； and when Donato Cocchi； being
Gonfalonier of Justice； proposed to assemble them without his consent；
the Signors who were of Cosmo's party ridiculed the idea so
unmercifully； that the man's mind actually became deranged； and he had
to retire from office in consequence。 However； since it is undesirable
to allow matters to proceed beyond recovery； the Gonfalon of Justice
being in the hands of Luca Pitti； a bold…spirited man； Cosmo
determined to let him adopt what course he thought proper； that if any
trouble should arise it might be imputed to Luca and not to himself。
Luca； therefore； in the beginning of his magistracy； several times
proposed to the people the appointment of a new balia； and； not
succeeding； he threatened the members of the councils with injurious
and arrogant expressions； which were shortly followed by corresponding
conduct； for in the month of August； 1458； on the eve of Saint
Lorenzo； having filled the piazza； and compelled them to assent to a
measure to which he knew them to be averse。 Having recovered power；
created a new balia； and filled the principal offices according to the
pleasure of a few individuals； in order to commence that government
with terror which they had obtained by force； they banished Girolamo
Machiavelli； with some others； and deprived many of the honors of
government。 Girolamo； having transgressed the confines to which he was
limited； was declared a rebel。 Traveling about Italy； with the design
of exciting the princes against his country； he was betrayed while at
Lunigiana； and； being brought to Florence； was put to death in prison。
This government； during the eight years it continued； was violent and
insupportable； for Cosmo； being now old； and through ill health unable
to attend to public affairs as formerly； Florence became a prey to a
small number of her own citizens。 Luca Pitti； in return for the
services he had performed for the republic； as made a knight； and to
be no less grateful than those who had conferred the dignity upon him；
he ordered that the priors； who had hitherto been called priors of the
trades； should also have a name to which they had no kind of claim；
and therefore called them priors of liberty。 He also ordered； that as
it had been customary for the gonfalonier to sit upon the right hand
of the rectors； he should in future take his seat in the midst of
them。 And that the Deity might appear to participate in what had been
done； public processions were made and solemn services performed； to
thank him for the recovery of the government。 The Signory and Cosmo
made Luca Pitti rich presents； and all the citizens were emulous in
imitation of them； so that the money given amounted to no less a sum
than twenty thousand ducats。 He thus attained such influence； that not
Cosmo but himself now governed the city； and his pride so increased；
that he commenced two superb buildings； one in Florence； the other at
Ruciano； about a mile distant； both in a style of royal magnificence；
that in the city； being larger than any hitherto built by a private
person。 To complete them； he had recourse to the most extraordinary
means； for not only citizens and private individuals made him presents
and supplied materials； but the mass of people； of every grade； also
contributed。 Besides this； any exiles who had committed murders；
thefts； or other crimes which made them amenable to the laws； found a
safe refuge within their walls； if they were able to contribute toward
their decoration or completion。 The other citizens； though they did
not build like him； were no less violent or rapacious； so that if
Florence were not harassed by external wars； she was ruined by the
wickedness of her own children。 During this period the wars of Naples
took place。 The pope also commenced hostilities in Romagna against the
Malatesti； from whom he wished to take Rimino and Cesena； held by
them。 In these designs； and his intentions of a crusade against the
Turks； was passed the pontificate of Pius II。
Florence continued in disunion and disturbance。 The dissensions
continued among the party of Cosmo； in 1455； from the causes already
related； which by his prudence； as we have also before remarked； he
was enabled to tranquilize； but in the year 1464； his illness
increased； and he died。 Friends and enemies alike grieved for his
loss； for his political opponents； perceiving the rapacity of the
citizens； even during the life of him who alone restrained them and
made their tyranny supportable； were afraid； lest after his decease；
nothing but ruin would ensue。 Nor had they much hope of his son Piero；
who though a very good man； was of infirm health； and new in the
government； and they thought he would be compelled to give way； so
that； being unrestrained； their rapacity would pass all bounds。 On
these accounts； the regret was universal。 Of all who have left
memorials behind them； and who were not of the military profession；
Cosmo was the most illustrious and the most renowned。 He not only
surpassed all his contemporaries in wealth and authority； but also in
generosity and prudence； and among the qualities which contributed to
make him prince in his own country； was his surpassing all others in
magnificence and generosity。 His liberality became more obvious after
his death； when Piero； his son； wishing to know what he possessed； it
appeared there was no citizen of any consequence to whom Cosmo had not
lent a large sum of money； and often； when informed of some nobleman
being in distress； he relieved him unasked。 His magnificence is
evident from the number of public edifices he erected； for in Florence
are the convents and churches of St。 Marco and St。 Lorenzo； and the
monastery of Santa Verdiana； in the mountains of Fiesole； the church
and abbey of St。 Girolamo； and in the Mugello； he not only restored；
but rebuilt from its foundation； a monastery of the Frati Minori； or
Minims。 Besides these； in the church of Santa Croce； the Servi； the
Agnoli； and in San Miniato； he erected splendid chapels and altars；
and besides building the churches and chapels we have mentioned； he
provided them with all the ornaments； furniture； and utensils suitable
for the performance of divine service。 To these sacred edifices are to
be added his private dwellings； one in Florence； of extent and
elegance adapted to so great a citizen； and four others； situated at
Careggi； Fiesole； Craggiulo； and Trebbio； each； for size and grandeur；
equal to royal palaces。 And； as if it were not sufficient to be
distinguished for magnificence of buildings in Italy alone； he erected
an hospital at Jerusalem； for the reception of poor and infirm
pilgrims。 Although his habitations； like all his other works and
actions； were quite of a regal character； and he alone was prince in
Florence； still everything was so tempered with his prudence； that he
never transgressed the decent moderation of civil life； in his
conversation； his servants； his traveling； his mode of living； and the
relationships he formed； the modest demeanor of the citizen was always
evident； for he was aware that a constant exhibition of pomp brings
more envy upon its possessor than greater realities borne without
ostentation。 Thus in selecting consorts for his sons； he did not seek
the alliance of princes； but for Giovanni chose Corneglia degli
Allesandri； and for Piero； Lucrezia de' Tornabuoni。 He gave his
granddaughters； the children of Piero； Bianca to Guglielmo de' Pazzi；
and Nannina to Bernardo Ruccellai。 No one of his time possessed such
an intimate knowledge of government and state affairs as himself； and
hence amid such a variety of fortune； in a city so given to change；
and among a people of such extreme inconstancy； he retained possession
of the government thirty…one years； for being endowed with the utmost
prudence； he foresaw evils at a distance； and therefore had an
opportunity either of averting them； or preventing their injurious
results。 He thus not only vanquished domestic and civil ambition； but
humbled the pride of many princes with so much fidelity and address；
that whatever powers were in league with himself and his country；
either overcame their adversaries； or remained uninjured by his
alliance； and whoever were opposed to him； lost either their time；
money； or territory。 Of this the Venetians afford a sufficient proof；
who； while in league with him against Duke Filippo were always
victorious； but apart from him were always conquered； first by Filippo
and then by Francesco。 When they joined Alfonso against the Florentine
rep