Florentine palaces & their stories

Transcriber’s Note
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JANET ROSS
FLORENTINE PALACES & THEIR STORIES
BY JANET ROSS
WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS BY ADELAIDE MARCHI
1905 LONDON J. M. DENT & CO. 29 & 30 BEDFORD STREET, W. C. NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & CO.
Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, BREAD STREET HILL, E. C., AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.
Dedication
To Cavaliere Angelo Bruschi, Librarian of the Biblioteca Marucelliana, this book of the Palaces of his native city is dedicated in memory of much kindness and ever-ready help by
Janet Ross.
The Grand Seneschal Niccola Acciaiuoli is described by Matteo Palmieri as being “of more than the ordinary height, lithe, strong, of noble and pleasing presence, with a certain vivacity and gaiety which rendered him a most agreeable companion. His hair was auburn, his eyes large and brilliant, his aspect kindly and smiling; broad in the chest and well made, he used his left hand as dexterously as his right. He dressed well, and when attending any solemn function always wore silk or brocade and had a large following, not, as he was wont to say, for himself, but for the honour of his King. A great lover of arms and of horses, of which he sought to have the best that could be procured, he would, after breaking them in, give them as presents, with magnificent saddles and bridles, to the great personages of the Kingdom. Naturally inclined towards good and noble deeds he was liberal even to prodigality. Many times he risked, not only his patrimony, but his own and his son’s lives in the service of the King. He pardoned far oftener than he avenged evil done to himself. He was sober in eating and drinking, but his table was magnificently furnished for his friends and when he gave public entertainments, as often happened when he returned to visit his own country, where he was received with the highest honours and would give balls, games and other festivals. He led a pure and religious life, observing the fasts ordained by the Church so strictly that on fast days he only ate one piece of dry bread and drank pure water.... His life was a prosperous one, and though he worked hard and suffered infinite privations both by day and by night, he was seldom ill. He died at Naples on November 8, 1365, being fifty-six years of age.”