Renaissance Princes, Popes and Prelates, Vespasiano, transl. William
George and Emily Waters, Harper and Row, New York, 1963 (1926), 1839

This edition has a special introduction by Myron P. Gilmore (pp. xi-
xvi) noting Burkhardt's statement that this book inspired him to write
The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy. Vespasiano (1421-1498)
was the most famous bookseller of his time. He supplied bibliophiles
such as Cosimo de Medici, Niccolo Niccoli, Naples' King Alfonso and
Pope Nicolas V.

He sold his shop in 1480 and spent his final years writing, this book
being his greatest work, although it was not published until 1839. His
account here of these Renaissance figures contributed to the concept of
the Renaissance man.

Pages 1-12 are the translators' introduction. They enumerate English
patrons of Vespasiano's bookshop, state the interest to historians of
Vespasiano's lives, condemn his style, grammar and spelling, admit his
proficiency in storytelling and express regret at his leaving out
contemporary artists.

Pages 13-15 are the author's introduction, asserting he writes to
preserve the memory of worthy men, providing vernacular notes for
serious Latin historians.

17-31 Pope Eugenius IV was a Venetian who turned in youth from a rich
inheritance to become a Blue Friar. Antonio Coreri's (a fellow Venetian
friar's) uncle, Pope Gregory, made both of them cardinals. Elected in
1431, Pope Eugenius was forced to leave Rome due to popular unrest. He
came to Florence, revived monasticism, summoned a council to reconcile
Greeks and Ethiopians with the Latin Church, lived simply, was generous
and of awesome presence.

31-58 Pope Nicolas V was born at Pisa. When he was young his mother had
a vision he would become pope. He was very studious, fluent in Latin
and well read. He tutored sons of prominent people. He was included in
papal embassies across the Alps. On his return from one mission to
Germany, Pope Eugenius made him a cardinal. He delivered Eugenius'
funeral oration and was elected his successor.

He ended the schism, appointed Felix cardinal in Savoy. He established
the Italian League bringing peace to Italy for 25 years. He celebrated
the jubilee. He vigorously supported the gathering and translation of
texts, assembling a library unrivalled since Ptolemy's time. He
conducted building projects in Rome. He crowned Frederick Holy Roman
Emperor in a magnificent ceremony.

He was generous and abstemious. He fell ill during an outbreak of
plague, but recovered. A plot to assassinate him was discovered, the
leader executed, the rest pardoned. Pope Nicolas took his leave of life
in a highly spiritual manner, speaking clearly of the duty of his
hearers to support the Church.

58-83 Alfonso King of Naples was a very devout man. He kept vigils,
knew the Bible well, washed the feet of the poor and personally served
the poor dinner. He was generous and honourable, refusing an offer to
use fireworks technology to destroy an entire enemy fleet. He was
considerate of great and small. He was honest, insightful and abhorred
deceit. He kept the oath he made as a teenager to refrain from
gambling.

He gathered learned men around him, including Bartolomeo Fazi of Genoa
who wrote his biography. He was conscientious, studied hard, especially
enjoying Livy. When he fell seriously ill, he sought absolution for his
sins and died worthily.

83-114 Federigo, Duke of Urbino, was a valiant and brilliant warrior.
He had military training under Nicolo Piccinino and was widely read in
history, sacred literature and philosophy. He was a skilled architect,
constructing strong fortresses and impressive palaces. He was learned
in music, sculpture and painting, hiring the best in these fields to
enhance his residence. He assembled the most complete library of his
time.

He was a very capable administrator, always keeping his word, observing
fasts and vigils, generously supporting the learned and religious, ever
approachable and quick to pardon any offence save blasphemy. He was
humane, speaking only good of others and listening to naught else. He
was keen to reconcile those of his people angry at each other.

He fell ill defending Ferrara and when advised to seek healthier air,
placed the greater good above his own life.

114-117 Alessandro Sforza was a great warrior, a learned and diligent
leader who assembled a great library. He helped monks.

117-118 Gostanzo Sforza was a worthy son of Alessandro. He was a friend
of monks, learned, adding to his father's library and a good commander.
He died too young.

119-121 Cardinal Branda was an expert in canon law. He lived simply. He
promoted virtue and learning. He founded a public library in Lombardy.

121-122 Cardinal Antonio de Coreri lived simply, supported monks. His
nephew Gregorio was learned and articulate from a young age.

123-125 Carinal Albergati lived simply. He mediated disputes in Italy
and across the Alps. He lived a holy life and was learned in canon law.

125-132 Cardinal Cesarini was poor. He studied at Perugia, where
Bindaccio supported him some. Cesarini wrote verse and prose well. At
Rome he was in the house of the cardinal of Piacenza. Cesarini was
president of the Council of Basel. He lived simply, was devout and
generous, a supporter of monasticism. He went to Bohemia to convert
heretics. He assisted in the Council of Florence and the joining of the
Greek and Latin Churches. he helped Greeks with their travelling costs.

He went to Hungary to join the king opposing the Turkish advance. False
Christians (Venetians) took payment to transport a large Turkish force
across the water. These destroyed the Christian army. King and cardinal
fell here at Varna in 1444.

133-137 Cardinal Capranica born poor was learned in canon law and made
a mark at the Council of Basel. He was frugel and a good administrator.
He was the papal legate to King Alfonso of Naples who treated him with
high honour and agreed to peace on his terms.

137-141 Cardinal Niceno, Bessarion, was a distinguished Greek. He was
highly literate. He promoted learning, obtaining many books and sending
six hundred to the public library founded at his request in Venice. In
old age he went on a papal mission to France.

141-142 Cardinal Roverella studied with Bishop Scipione. Pope Nicolas V
sent Roverella on missions. He lived simply and honestly, losing a
papal election as he refused to make promises.

143-146 Cardinal Jacopo di Portogallo was of royal background. He was
studious, devout, generous and chaste. He died very young.

146-153 Cardinal Gerona was a clerk of Pope Nicolas V. He went to
Navarre and tutored King Juan's sons, including Ferdinand. Later King
Ferdinand sent Gerona to convince the pope to oppose Venice's moves
against Ferrara. He succeeded. He was very learned in canon and civil
law, in philosophy, in theology. He wrote History of Spain and Coronna
del Principe.

153-156 The other cardinals Vespasiano knew personally were Rieti (very
learned), Spoleto (learned and honest), S. Marcello (canonist, literate
and virtuous), S. Sisto (alone accompanied Pope Eugenius to Florence,
wrote many books), de Mella (great canonist and jurisconsult), di
Mendoza (highly literate, caused many books to be translated) and
Nicola de Cusa (learned philosopher, ardently sought books, wrote
copiously).

157-163 Archbishop Antonino was a Florentine. He spent time in Naples,
wrote on confession, was appointed Archbishop of Florence. He was
simple, approachable, generous and honest. He spiritualized the clergy.
He wrote his Summa. On his accession, Pope Nicolas asked Antonino for
advice. He went with Florence's envoys to congratulate other popes on
their election. He dressed plainly even on grand occasions. He refused
the suggestion he be appointed cardinal. He once received three votes
for pope. He died worthily leaving little material behind.

163-168 Archbishop S. Bernardino da Massa turned from studying canon
law to theology. At 22 he renounced the world and became a Franciscan.
He was a skilled preacher, promoting virtue and peace for decades until
his death. He was named a saint.

168-180 Orlando Bonarli, the honest and capable Archbishop of Florence,
taught at Bologna and Florence and administered in Rome. The learned
Bishop of Ferrara read Petrarch's De Conflictu Curarum Suarum and
became spiritual. The learned Bishop of Verona supported scholars. The
learned Bishop of Padua died of plague. Learned Piero da Monte
collected books. Domenico, Bishop of Brescia, and the Patriarch of
Jerusalem were learned.

Raugia's Bishop was a great preacher and Fiesole's a learned speaker.
The learned Bishop of Corona owned a number of books. Cappaccio died
young on a mission to Burgundy. Imola's Bishop was a learned writer.
Volterra's learned Cavalcanti died young. Volterra's learned Antonio
degli Agli lived simply, was generous, supported monks and nuns.
Leonardo Dati, papal secretary and Bishop of Massa, was gentle and a
fine writer of prose and verse.

181-184 Nicolo Perotto, Bishop of Sipontimo, studied in Ferrara under
Guerino. He was befriended by William Gray whom he accompanied to Rome.
There he studied under Bessarion. He translated Greek works and wrote
impressively on Latin authors.

184-186 England's William Gray studied at Cologne, Padua and Ferrara,
ever seeking books. He was sent to Rome. He arranged Nicolo Perotto's
entrance to Bessarion's house. He became Bishop of Ely in England and
royal advisor. On Henry's death he focused on his episcopal duties and
his studies. He established a splendid library.

186-188 Cosimo, Bishop of Vico, Pope Calixtus' learned datary, was
appointed Bishop of Gerona, but King John of Aragon refused to accept
this.

188-191 The Archbishop of Strigonia, a Slavonian by birth, helped raise
Hungary's King Mathias to the throne in 1458. Giovanni was learned and
a patron of learning. He sent Hungarians, including Giovanni, Bishop of
Funfkirchen, to Italy to study Latin and Greek. He established a
library in Hungary, importing many books from Italy. He founded an
institute at Buda, inviting there many Italian scholars. He gathered
artists, sculptors and wood carvers. He fell out of favour with King
Mathias, intrigued with the king of Poland, was seized by Mathias and
soon died.

192-197 Giovanni, Bishop of Funfkirchen, a Slavonian had an impressive
intelligence. He studied under Guerino at Ferrara. He came to Florence,
saw Vespasiano, Cosimo de Medici, Poggio, Giovanni Argiropolo, etc. He
went to all of Florence's libraries. He bought many books. He went to
Hungary and became Bishop of Funfkirchen.

He accompanied the king in his campaigns against the Turks. He was sent
to Rome on the accession of Pope Paul II where he secured papal
financial support for Hungary's Turkish campaigns. He bought books in
Rome, Florence, Ferrara and Venice, establishing a fine library in
Hungary. He was constantly reading, studying and engaging in learned
conversation. Shortly after the death of Strigonia's Archbishop, he
died en route to Slavonia.

197-201 Giorgio, Bishop of Cologne, was a Hungarian the Archbishop of
Strigonia sent to study law at Padua. In Hungary he stayed at the
archbishop's residence and he accompanied the Bishop of Funfkirchen on
his mission to Rome. In disturbed times he retained the king's
confidence. He sought to end Venetian warring against Florence. He
obtained the hand of a princess of Naples for Hungary's king. He was
appointed Hungary's chancellor. In Florence he bought many books. He
was appointed Bishop of Cologne.

201-202 Narciso, Bishop of Miletus, was a learned Catalan with an
awesome memory. The King of Naples sent him to Germany. He visited
Florence and impressed Giovanni Argiropolo. He was appointed Bishop of
Miletus.

202-204 Alfonso di Portogallo was a bishop who attended the cardinal of
Portugal. He managed the cardinal's Florentine household well. When the
cardinal died, Alfonso honoured him. Alfonso was appointed regent in
the papal chancery.

204-206 Gregorio Coreri, a Venetian, was a nephew of the Bishop of
Bologna. He was learned and spiritual, preferring the abbey to a
bishopric.

206-208 Andrew Hollis was a learned and studious Englishman who bought
so many books during his one and a half year stay in Florence that he
had to send them to England by ship. There he read and studied quietly.

208-212 Friar Ambroglio was very learned in Latin and Greek, one of two
translators at the Council of Florence. He translated Greek literature,
Christian and secular, including Diogenes Laertius.

A summary of the second half of this work will hopefully be available
soon.

Michael McKenny, March 9, 2008 C.E.


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