Bartolommeo Scala, Secretary of the Florentine Republic, to Lorenzo de’ Medici at Naples
Magnifice Pater benefactor mi,—We are all hoping against hope for the conclusion of this affair which has delayed so long, as you will see by the letter of the Ten. Letters from Rome come often to our merchants which addle our brains, not only do they vary every time, but are contradictory. The Pope will never consent. The Count agrees to everything. The Pope agrees, the Count will not hear of it, &c. The news is crumbled into a thousand bits. Messer Lorenzo da Castello has gone to lay the land waste, also he has gone to set things right, also to clear up matters, in short infinite are the opinions and the whims. For the love of God get us out of this by the good offices of him [King of Naples] on whom we are to depend in future; for his power and authority are such that finally every one will have to do as he pleases. The Ten desire your return either with peace or without, but more with peace. This long delay is grievous to them and to all, especially to your friends. Yet, notwithstanding, hope and faith in H.M. the King grows day by day and affection towards you. And as it appears agat partes nostras in this treaty of peace against our other adversaries, I encourage this opinion as much as I can, because it seems to me beneficial to our public and private needs. Everything here is quiet and in the same condition as when you left, as I told you before. If there is peace you will see how the city will flourish. I commend myself to you.—Florence, January 15, 1479 (1480), quam raptim.[276]
Doctor Oliverio, from Bagno a Morba, to Lucrezia de’ Medici
Magnificent and honoured Domina, humili commendatione premissa, salutem,—In my last I informed Your Magnificence that the spring called Cacio cotto[277] gave about six barrels[278] a day and that we are now searching for an increased supply. Being anxious to meet your wishes and to prevent the said water from escaping from whence it rises as I found had been the case, whereby much of its virtue is lost, I caused the building made for Giovanni di Pace to be demolished, and at the bottom, nearly in the centre of the Bath, I found another spring and several smaller ones which will give much water, and are exactly the same as that of Caccio cotto, which[279] ... give twenty barrels, or more.[280] The ingredients contained in the said water are sulphur and some alum. It is excellent for scabies and for asthma, it is a dissolvent, heals all ills in the body and pains in the joints and the nerves. Many other virtues are contained in it as I will demonstrate to Your Magnificence. Also of the other springs, particularly that of the principal bath, you shall have exact descriptions, for I am analysing the said waters with all diligence, and in three days I hope to finish this work entrusted to me. I commend myself to Your Magnificence.—The 28th April 1480.
Oliverius Medicus.[281]
Ippolita Maria d’Aragona, Duchess of Calabria, to Lorenzo de’ Medici
Magnifice Domine amice specialissime,—If Giovacchino had arrived at Florence without any letter from me Your Magnificence would have had every right to complain. To avoid this therefore I write; and also to satisfy H.M. the King, who often asks how I stand with my confederate, that is with you. This letter however is not that of a confederate, nor is it political, but only to tell Your Magnificence how continually we think of you. But we are not at all sure that you often think of our walk, which is in great beauty with all the flowers out, in truth it does not wish to be visited by a crowd in order to put forth tender shoots. Anyhow the walk and ourselves both bear Your Magnificence in our memories. Giovacchino, the bearer of this, is our very good friend, and we recommend him to Your Magnificence, not only in a general way but etiam in things which touch his honour and reputation, praying that you will grant him, for love of us, every aid and thus give us much pleasure.—Naples, July 3, 1480.
Castello Capuano.[282]
Papinio di Artimino to Lucrezia de’ Medici
Magnifica Domina post humilissima comendamenta vestra,—For some time I have not written to Your Magnificence, now I write to tell you: that this evening news has come from H.M. the King [of Naples] that the Turkish army has arrived in Apulia and has already seized more than twenty towns and castles, and taken prisoners more than fifteen thousand inhabitants, whom they have butchered in most cruel fashion. They are said now to be encamped before a port called Oitontoto [Otranto], where they have disembarked ten thousand men and more than four thousand horses, and have planted many mortars with which they are bombarding the walls. The opinion of those who have been there is that by now the town is lost. This news has made a great sensation here and is held to be very serious. God help us in our need: for I see it will cause the affairs of Italy to be forgotten.[283]