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

This is the second part of the Solarguard summary of this interesting
Renaissance source. This was written by the leading bookseller of his
generation (1421-1498), one who knew many of the key figures he speaks
about. The book was not published in the original Italian until 1839.

Cosimo de Medici was studious and serious from youth. In his 20s he
spent a couple of years travelling in France and Germany. At home his
quality drew envy. In 1433 he and his brother Lorenzo went as exiles to
Venice. His bank continued to thrive. Venice honoured and supported
him. He returned in 1434 and his opponents were exiled.

Cosimo favoured monks. He spent freely on monasteries. He considered
those with whom he dealt, even beyond the terms of contracts. He was a
patron of the arts. He went out of his way to help the needy. He
resisted those who presumed to cheat him. He spoke carefully. He
avoided backbiting. He had a remarkable memory.

Cosimo could converse with various people about what interested them.
He was knowledgeable on architecture. He had an in depth knowledge of
agriculture, planting and grafting his own fruit trees, pruning his
vines. He had a clear understanding of astrology. The only game he
played was chess. "He knew Magnolino, who was the best chess player of
his age." (p. 225 He pondered deeply his approaching death.

Palla di Noferi degli Strozzi promoted literature and Greek learning.
He encouraged and supported Manuello Grisolaro to come to Italy and
teach many intellectuals Greek. He was sent on embassies abroad. He was
upright and had his children educated by Giovanni da Imola so they
would also be so.

He headed educational reforms in Florence, hiring outstanding teachers
who produced outstanding results. One teacher became Pope Nicolas who
appointed Palla's son Cardinal and papal chamberlain (p. 236, but see
also p. 244)

He was modest, avoided publicity, devoted much time to studies and,
"bought a fine collection of books which he housed in a handsome
building in S. Trinita for the use of the public." (p. 237) He was
among the wise who opposed the Luccan adventure whence stemmed
Florence's tragic civil strife. In 1433 he refused to join Rinaldo,
ensuring his failure. When 62 he was exiled to Padua. There he hired
two Greeks (one Giovanni Argiropolo) and studied for thirty years.

Matteo Strozzi was studious and exiled from Florence.

Agnolo Pandolfini was learned and a friend of learned men. He went on
embassies. He achieved peace. He obtained Emperor Sigismund's good will
towards Florence. He held aloof from Rinaldo's changes. After Palla's
banishment, he retired and studied.. He was healthy and mentally alert
until he died aged 84.

Pandolfo Pandolfini, Agnolo's nephew, was studious, ethical, placing
first the benefit of the state. He served Florence at home and abroad,
becoming close to Naples' King Ferdinand. He fell ill and died there.
The king saw he was well tended in sickness and buried worthily. The
king was godfather to his son Ferdinand and provided for the boy.

Piero di Neri Acciaiuoli was of an accomplished house. He was studious
and showed great promise in his relatively short life. The same may be
said of his brother Donato, an effective ambassador in Milan, Paris and
Rome. The Florentine uprising of April 26, 1478 led to Donato's arrst
in Rome. The pope released him. He returned to Florence and was sent to
France. On his way there, he sickened and died in Milan. He was given a
state funeral. He had been a capable writer and translator.

Agnolo Acciaiuoli was studious, religious (attributing to God his
escape from the Turks and terrible French blizzards), one who served
Florence well on a number of important diplomatic missions. He opposed
Piero de Medici and was banished.

Agnolo Manetti from a young age was proficient in Latin, Greek and
Hebrew. He accompanied his father on missions throughout Italy. Agnolo
served Florence well at home and abroad. He was adept at resolving
disputes. He had a successful mission to the King of France. While on a
military mission, he fell ill and died.

Piero de Pazzi turned from youthful fun seeking to serious study at the
urging of Nicolao Nicoli, who recommedned Pontano as tutor. Piero met
Piero de Medici and married his daughter Bianca. He had learned dinners
at his fine house. During a mission to France he impressed King Louis
who knighted him. King Rene on his visit to Florence stayed at his
house and was godfather to his son Renato. He was highly intelligent
with a remarkable memory. He acquired many books.

Lorenzo Ridolfi had the integrity of an ancient Roman. Learned in canon
and civil law, conscience kept him from practise. He effectively served
Florence on missions abroad. He studied St. Jerome. He wrote a book, De
Usuris, applying ethics to legal contracts.

Ser Filippo di Ser Ugolino was an awesome student, an honest notary,
chaste, spiritual and generous. He decided to retire when he judged he
could no longer serve the state with a clear conscience, but was
dismissed and banished to his estate near Chianti where he enjoyed
reading and study. The terms lightened, he moved to the monastery of
Settimo. There he remained, living simply until he died.

Bernardo Giugni served Florence well at home and abroad.

Count Camarlingo was studious, a musician, a bibiophile, one loyal to
King Alfonso, a warrior who fought the Turks.

Michele Feriero served the Papacy, Matteo Malferito Naples, Francesco
del Bennino Florence. John di Worcestri was an Englishman who studied
in Italy. He collected many books, returned to England, became powerful
and a victim to turmoil there was executed.

Alvaro di Luna for a long time was influential under king John of
Castile. The envious brought him into disfavour. He was executed.

Antonio Cincinello was a loyal and effective Neapolitan agent. He held
many posts, supporting himself and not asking the king for money. He
was ambassador to Florence. He met envy in Naples. He was tutor of the
heir's son. He was appointed governor of the disquieted region of
Aquila where he was killed by a mob.

Poggio Fiorentino knew Latin and Greek, was scribe, apostolic secretary
and papal envoy to England. He obtained many classical texts from
German monasteries. He spent 32 days copying Quintilians complete works
in a monastery which refused to sell these. He translated Greek texts.
He was Florence's chancellor. When aged he retired and wrote his
History of Florence.

lionardo d'Arezzo had outstanding command of Greek and Latin. He was
papal secretary. He attended Pope John XXIII to the Council of
Constance. This deposed the pope and might have imprisoned him had he
not escaped with d'Arezzo. D'Arezzo was Florence's chancellor and
served the city well with sage advice. He translated Greek texts. He
wrote impressive works, including a history of Florence.

Carlo d'Arezzo was learned in Greek and Latin, highly literate, an
impressive lecturer with a fine memory, a translator of Greek texts,
papal secretary and Florentine chancellor.

Benedetto d'Arezzo studied law at Florence under his father. He was a
very prominent lawyer, a profound scholar with an astonishing memory.
He was Florentine chancellor. He read and wrote history. He knew
French.

Giannozzo Manetti knew Greek, Latin and Hebrew. He made good use of his
time, avoiding gambling, was honest, refusing presents or paying for
them. He was a superb arbitrator. He was sent on missions, including
military ones. He was papal secretary. He wrote and translated.

Nicolao Nicoli studied Latin and Greek. He very energetically sought
classical manuscripts. He encouraged learning, providing students with
funds and books. His home often had many there reading and holding
learned discourse. He also encouraged artists and sculptors. He was
devout and his passing was very religious.

Franco Sacchetti knew Latin and Greek. He served Florence on missions
abroad. He was on good terms with all. He lived simply and devoted
himself to writing. Twice a year he invited to his place ten or twelve
learned men for refined conversation.

Giorgio di Trabisonda was a Greek also learned in Latin. He provided
many translations and wrote much.

Francesco Filelfo, learned in Latin and Greek, an impressive lecturer,
skilled in versification, translated Greek texts and wrote much,
including his verse Sforziade honouring Milan's ruling house.

Vittorino da Feltre was learned in Latin and Greek, devout, a great
teacher who had many prominent students.

Guerino Veronese studied in Florence, promoted learning and encouraged
Grisolara to come to Italy.

Biondo da Forli, learned in Latin and Greek, was a keen antiquarian. He
wrote works to illuminate the Roman and Italian past.

Matteo Palmieri was learned in Latin and Greek, served Florence in many
posts at home and abroad and wrote poetry and prose.

Maffeo Vegio knew Latin and Greek wrote prose and verse, including a
thirteenth book of the Aeneid.

Zembino of Pistoia knew Latin and Greek, lived simply, was chaste,
studious, a teacher of many fine scholars. He wrote a chronicle from
the beginning of the world.

Giovanni Tortello knew Greek and Latin, served as papal librarian,
wrote Ortographia and translated from Greek.

Master Pagolo knew Latin and Greek. "He was learned in astrology above
all others of his time." (p. 423) He was a vegetarian, chaste, devout,
mild mannered and a comfort to the sick.

Lapo di Castiglionchi was learned in Greek and Latin and translated
some Lucian and Plutarch.

Lauro Quirino, a Venetian learned in Latin and Greek, Malraso Ciciliano
the gifted poet, Enoche d'Ascoli whom Pope Nicolas sent to Germany to
hunt manuscripts, learned and eloquent Lucio da Spoleto, Lionardo del
Bennino, virtuous, honest, hospitable, learned in Latin, Cipriano
Rucellai the Greek scholar, Nicolo della Luna Greek and Latin scholar,
Veri Salviatti, ditto, Francesco di Lapacino knew Greek and Latin and
transcribed Ptolemy's Cosmographia, restoring the maps, Giovanni da
Miles, a Roman who wrote on law, canon and civil, Cencio Romano,
learned in Latin and Greek, wrote several works and Antonio Cafferrelli
who left no legal writings though he was learned in law.

Nugno Gusmano was a Spaniard who travelled widely, including in Egypt,
Syria, France and Italy. He enjoyed learned conversations, translated,
wrote and collected books.

Velasco di Portogallo, learned in civil and canon law, was a winning
lawyer. He had a rash temper that at times got him in trouble. In the
end he repented of his arrogance.

Alessandra de Bardi's biography follows two proems (pp. 439-445). She
was of a very noble house, tall, beautiful and a devout Christian. Her
mother taught her how to manage well a house. In 1428 she, dancing
magnificently at the ball and offering them food and drink gracefully,
very much impressed the imperial ambassadors to Florence.

In 1432 she married Palla's son Lorenzo. Now married, she rejected the
advances of an amorous young man. In the upheavals of 1433-1434, her
father and father-in-law were exiled. Later her husband was banished.
She focused on rearing her three children. Her mother died. Her father
died. Then her husband was killed by a youth he was tutoring. She
grieved. When she was 54 she passed away.

Bartolomeo de Fortuni knew Latin, was devout, administered Borgo well.
He abolished gambling and encouraged idlers to do something productive.
Florentines elected him to an office. A rival imprisoned him and took
the office. in time, the wrongdoer suffered imprisonment and exile,
while de Fortuni was restored to favour. He and his sons well served
Florence.

This primary source provides a fascinating glimpse of the times and of
many prominent people who exemplify the ideal of the Renaissance man.

Michael McKenny


Solarguard Renaissance 



Solarguard Homepage