The works of the famous Nicholas Machiavel, citizen and secretary of Florence written originally in Italian, and from thence newly and faithfully translated into English.

The Author's INTRODUCTION.

WHen I first took upon me to write the History of Florence, and its transactions both at home and abroad, I thought to have begun at the year 1434, at which time the Family of the Medici (exalted by the merits of Cosimo, & his father Giovan∣ni) was in greater authority that any other in that City; believing that Messer Leonardo d' Arezzo, and Messer Poggio, two excellent Historians, had given particular description of all the passages be∣fore. But upon diligent perusal of their writings to inform my self of their orders and methods, that thereby my own might have better ap∣probation, I found that in their narratives of the Florentine Wars, and foreign negotiations, they had been accurate enough; but in their civil dissentions, their intrinsick animosities, and in the effects which followed them, they were either totally silent, or where any thing was mentioned, it was with such brevity and abruptness as could yield nei∣ther profit nor recreation to the reader. Which I conceive they did, either out of an opinion, that they were inconsiderable, and unwor∣thy to be transmitted to Posterity; or else they apprehended a necessity of reflecting upon some great persons, whose family would be disoblig∣ed thereby; both which arguments (if I may speak it without offence) are beneath the grandeur and magnanimity of a great person. For if any thing in History be delightfull or profitable, it is those particular descriptions; if any thing be usefull to such Citizens as have the Go∣vernment in their hands, it is such as represents the feuds and dissen∣tions in the Cities, that thereby they m••••be enabled to maintain their own unity at other peoples expence; if the example of any Common∣wealth moves a man, certainly that which is written of ones own makes a much stronger impression; and if the factions of any State were ever considerable, the factions in Florence were not to be preter∣mitted; the greatest part of other States have not had above one, which sometimes has advanced, aud sometimes ruined the Government; but Florence has had many divisions. Everybody knows how in Rome after the expulsion of their King, there arose division betwixt the Nobles and the people, which continued till one of them was oppres∣sed. So it was in Athens, and all the Commonwealths which flourished in those times; but in Florence the first dissention was be∣twixt the Nobles; the next betwixt the Nobles and Citizens; and then

betwixt the Citizens and the Plebs: in all which, one was no sooner superior, but it divided again; and the effects of those divisions were Murders, and Banishments, and dispersion of families, such as never occurr'd in any City, that can be remembred. And truly in my judg∣ment, nothing demonstrates the power of our City so much as the con∣sequences of those divisions, which were enough to have subverted and destroyed any other in the world. But ours grew still greater there∣by; so remarkable was the courage of the Citizens, and so efficacious their industry for the advancement of their Country, that those few which surviv'd the miseries of their Predecessors, did more by their constancy & courage towards the advancement of their interest, than the malignity of those accidents could do to depress it. And doubt∣less had Florence been so happy after it had freed it self from the Empire, to have assum'd such a form of Government as would have preserv'd it in unity, I know not any commonwealth, either ancient or modern, that would have exceeded it, or have been comparable to it, either in riches or power. For it is observable, after the Ghibilins were driven out of the Town in such numbers as all Tuscany and Lombardy were full of those exiles; the Guelfs, and such as were left behind in the expedition against Arezzo (which was the year before the battle of Campaldino) were able to drawout of their own Citizens 1200 Horse, and 12000 Foot, And afterwards in the war against Philippo Visconti Duke of Milan being to try their fortune rather withtheir riches than their arms (which at that time were very much weakened) in five years space (which was the length of that war) the Florentines expended five millions, and 500000 Florens; and when that War was composed, to ostentate and publish the power of that Commonwealth, they marched out with an army, and besieged Lucca I do not see therefore, for what reason these divisions should not be worthy of relation; and if those Noble Authors were restrained by fear of offending the memory of such as they were to speak of, they were mightily out, and seem not to have understood the ambition of mankind, and their desire to have the names of themselves and an∣cestors transmitted to Posterity; nor did they remember that many people, not having opportunity to make themselves eminent by good and laudable acts, have endeavoured to compass it by any way, how scandalous and ignominious soever. Neither did they consider that the actions which carry greatness along with them, as those of Go∣vernments and States, what ends soever they, have and which way so••ever they are described, do still leave more honour than infamy to their Family; the consideration of which things prevailed with me to alter my design, and to begin my History from the very foundation of the City: and because it is not my intention to transcribe what has

been done before by other people, I shall relate such things only as occurr'd within the City to the year 14••4, mentioning the acci∣dents abroad only so far as will be necessary for the intelligence of the other; after which year I shall give a particular description both of the one and the other. Besides, for the better and more last∣ing understanding of this History, before I treat of Florence, I shall discourse of the means by which Italy fell under the domini∣on of those Potentates which govern'd it at that time; all which shall be comprehended in my four first Books: the first shall give a short recital of all transactions in Italy, from the dissolution of the Roman Empire to the year 1434. The second shall give an ac∣count of all affairs from the foundation of the City of Florence, to the end of the War against the Pope, which commenc'd upon the expulsion of the Duke of Athens: the third shall conclude with the death of Ladislaus King of Naples: and in the fourth we shall end with the year 1434, from whence afterwards to our pre∣sent times we shall give a particular Narrative of all proceedings both within the City and without.