City without any obstruction: and though afterwards he lost two great Battels to the
Carthaginians, and at length was besieg'd, yet he was not only able to defend that City, but
leaving part of his forces for the security of that, with the rest he transported into Africk,
and ordered things so, that in a short time he reliev'd Syracuse, and reduced the Carthagi∣nians
into such extream necessity, that they were glad to make peace with him, and content∣ing
themselves with Africk, leave Sicily to Agathocles. He then who examines the Exploits
and Conduct of Agathocles▪ will find little or nothing that may be attributed to fortune,
seeing he rose not (as is said before) by the favour of any man, but by the steps and grada∣tions
of War; with a thousand difficulties and dangers having gotten that Government,
which he maintained afterwards with as many noble Atchievements. Nevertheless it cannot
be called Virtue in him to kill his fellow-Citizens, betray his Friends, to be without faith,
without pity, or Religion; these are ways may get a Man Empire, but no glory nor repu∣tation:
Yet if the Wisdom of Agathocles be considered, his dexterity in encountring, and
overcoming of dangers, his Courage in supporting and surmounting his misfortunes; I do
not see why he should be held inferiour to the best Captains of his time. But his unbounded
cruelty, and barbarous inhumanity, added to a million of other Vices, will not permit that
he be numbred amongst the most Fxcellent Men. So then that which he performed cannot
justly be attributed to either Fortune or Virtue, for he did all himself without either the one
or the other. In our days under the Papacy of Alexander VI. Oliverotto da Fermo being
left young many years since by his Parents, was brought up by his Unckle by the Mothers
side, call'd Iohn Togliani, and in his youth listed a Soldier under Paulo Vitelli, that having
improved himself by his Discipline, he might be capable of some Eminent Command.
Paulo being dead, he served under Vitellezzo his Brother and in short time by the acuteness
of his parts, and the briskness of his Courage, became one of the best Officers in his Army.
But thinking it beneath him to continue in any Man's Service, he conspir'd with some of
his fellow-Citizens of Fermo (to whom the servitude of their Country, was more agreeable
than its liberty) by the help of Vitellesco to seize upon Fermo: In order to which, he writ a
Letter to his Unckle Iohn Fogliano, importing, That having been absent many years, he
had thoughts of visiting him and Fermo, and taking some little diversion in the place
where he was born, and because the design of his Service had been only the gaining of Ho∣nour,
That his fellow-Citizens might see his time had not been ill spent, he desired admis∣sion
for a hundred Horse of his Friends, and his Equipage, and beg'd of him that he would
take care they might be honourably received, which would redound not only to his Honour,
but his Unckles, who had had the bringing him up. Iohn was not wanting in any Office to
his Nephew, and having caus'd him to be nobly received, he lodged him in his own House,
where he continued some days, preparing in the mean time what was necessary to the Exe∣cution
of his wicked design: he made a great Entertainment, to which he invited Iohn
Fogliani, and all the chief Citizens in the Town. About the end of the treatment, when
they were entertaining one another, as is usual at such times, Oliverotto very subtilly pro∣moted
certain grave discourses about the greatness of Pope Alexander, and Cesar his Son,
and of their Designs; Iohn and the rest replying freely to what was said, Oliverotto smil'd,
and told them those were points to be argued more privately, and thereupon removing
into a chamber, his Unckle, and the rest of his fellow-Citizens followed; They were scarce
sate down, before Soldiers (which were conceal'd about the room) came forth, and kill'd all
of them, and the Unckle among the rest; After the Murder was committed Oliverotto
mounted on Horseback, rode about, and rummaged the whole Town, having besieged the
chief Magistrate, in his Palace; so that for fear, all people submitted, and he establish'd a
Government of which he made himself Head. Having put such to death as were discontent∣ed,
and in any capacity of doing him hurt, he fortified himself with new Laws, both Military
and Civil, insomuch as in a years time he had not only fix'd himself in Fermo, but was
become terrible to all that were about him; and he would have been as hard as Agathocles
to be supplanted, had he not suffered himself to have been circumvented by Cesar Borgia,
when at Singalia (as aforesaid) he took the Ursini, and Vitelli; where also he himself was
taken a year after his Parracide was committed, and strangled with his Master Vitellozzo
from whom he had learned all his good qualities, and evil
It may seem wonderful to some people how it should come to pass that Agathocles, and
such as he, after so many Treacheries, and acts of inhumanity, should live quietly in their
own Country so long, defend themselves so well against foreign Enemies, and none of their
Subjects conspire against them at home; seeing several others, by reason of their cruelty,
have not been able, even in times of Peace, as well as War, to defend their Government.
I conceive it fell out according as their cruelty was well or ill applyed: I say well applyed
(if that word may be added to an ill action) and it may be called so, when commited but