Dearest Son,—This day I have received thy letter saying that thou art well and improving every day, which rejoices me. I think thou must wish for news of Cosimo. Some days ago he had a bad attack of plague. He is ill in bed, but this time he has escaped and now the fever is slight. I hear that thou hast bought the quilts and the ticking, which is well done. If thou wouldst like to send them to Careggi, I [will keep them][70] until thy return. Do as thou wilt. The other family is quite well. It seems to me a thousand years until thy return, and I hear no rumour of it; I do not know how long thy absence will last, which is a grief to me. I say no more at present. May God guard thee.—In Florence on the 21st day June 1459.
Mona Contessina.[71]
Cosimo de’ Medici to his son Giovanni at the Baths of Petriolo
The men who brought back the horses gave us thy letters, and told us of thy safe arrival, thanks be to God. We have heard nothing from thee since, nor how the baths agree with thee; we should be glad to have news often from thee to say how thou art, so do not omit to cause some one to write often. Here by the grace of God we are all very well and are preparing a fine feast at Careggi for the day of S. Cosimo. In three days we expect Guglielmo de’ Pazzi,[72] for Lorenzo has gone with his tutor to Cafaggiuolo, where he was expected. Be diligent in doing all that is necessary, and come back as soon as thou canst. Be not remiss in what thou art there for, and be careful to take thy baths properly, so that they may be beneficial. Christ guard thee.—Careggi, September 1459.
Cosimo de’ Medici.[73]
Contessina de’ Medici to her son Giovanni and his wife Ginevra at Bagno a Morba
Dearest Children,—We have received your letters, which have given us great pleasure and relief, seeing that thou art better and that the improvement continues; may it please God that it shall continue, in order to give these two old people joy and consolation whilst they still live. It has been reported to thee that Cosimo and Piero have been ill; this annoys me, for I did not wish anything to sadden thee, so that the baths might have their proper effect. Their illness was but slight. Cosimo had a cold, which was soon cured, and he is now well; Piero had some pain, which is not yet gone; but you both know what always happens, so he will soon be well also. Cosimo has put an end to the worry of being one of the Eight, and Pier Francesco has been named in his stead: this might also be done for thee. I should be glad, Ginevra, to hear from thee how the baths act and how Mona Nanna serves thee. If I can do aught for thee here, tell me. Mona Pippa has the ailment thou knowest of, the others of thy party are well.—At Careggi on the 28th day of August 1460.
Thy Contessina.[74]
The last few years of Cosimo’s life were clouded by ill-health and suffering, and the knowledge that the growing arrogance and rapacity of his party, the Palleschi, were to a great extent alienating the affection and the esteem of the citizens from his house. Then the death in 1461 of Cosimino, the only child of Giovanni and Ginevra de’ Medici, was a bitter grief to his grandparents, whose especial pet the little boy had been. Two years later Giovanni himself died, and the old man sadly exclaimed that the palace in Via Larga was now far too large for so small a family. He had always counted on the help Giovanni would give to his elder brother Piero, who was crippled with gout, and his death at the early age of forty-six was a blow from which Cosimo never rallied.
Pope Pius II. to Cosimo de’ Medici