Laurentius de Medicis.[228]
Sixtus IV. to the Duke Federigo of Urbino
Carissime fili noster at affinis salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem,—We have received your letter written manu propria and were rejoiced to hear your health was good, which is what I desire above all things and for which I pray to God, for nothing is more desirable to us. The letter written by the Florentines, full of contempt of Christ and of His unworthy Vicar does not alarm us, but causes us to think that God has destroyed their intellect and their judgment as a punishment for their sins. We trust that God, whose honour and glory is at stake, will grant you victory in everything, especially as our intentions are straightforward and just. For we make war on no one save on that ungrateful, excommunicated, and heretical Lorenzo de’ Medici; and we pray to God to punish him for his iniquitous acts, and to you as God’s minister deputed to avenge the wrongs he has iniquitously and without cause committed against God and His Church, with such ingratitude that the fountain of infinite love has been dried up.
To the Venetians we have replied in proper terms that if they act unjustly God is above all, and will requite every one according to his acts.
We have sent many Nuncios with our justification to the King of France and to other princes, such as the Emperor, the Kings of Hungary and Spain, and all the others.
Moreover our Bull which has been printed and published to the whole world will justify us; but allowing that everything goes wrong we shall rejoice in dying as a martyr and hear every persecution for love of the Church of God of which we are the unworthy head. We are sure that when you reflect on what merit you will acquire before God for defending His Church you will act as a true Christian Prince, and that my son the Duke of Calabria, together with yourself, will obtain glory with God and men; the Church will support you who support a just cause, &c. I am told that some, from ignorance or malignity, depict me as of hell; this I do not refute, but only despise their words, confiding in thy fidelity who wilt not abandon God and me, who trust in thee, so I let who will talk.
These French ambassadors are, they say, coming to us, let us hope that God may inspire us with suitable answers, all which shall be notified to you. Salute my illustrious son the Duke of Calabria cordially from me. For him, as for you, we pray continually to God. I wish thee good health, most beloved cousin.—July 25, 1478.
They threaten schism and disobedience. God’s will be done: but it might be desirable that you write to the King of England, and that King Ferdinand should write to his colleagues and to the King of France, as he in his prudence will know how to do in proper terms.[229]
Per avisi ho da Napoli il Re persevera pure in molestare assai le cose mie et in non mi lasciare riscuotere et volere che io paghi dubito ancora che subito che ’l papa intenderà questi cenni di levare la obedienza non faccia qualche novità alle mie cose a Roma nelle quali benchè mi paia avere passato il pericolo maggiore pure havendo grandissima fidanza costì per ogni mio bisogno vorrei che con ogni cautela e buono modo et segretamente che non lo intendessi altri che Messer Cecho intendessi se a qualche mio bisogno mi porrei valere di costì di XXXm o XLm ducati per VI overo VIIj mesi benchè non credo haverne bisogno perchè come dico mi pare in questa parte havere avuto il male ch’io possi et insino a hora ho proveduto francamente pure a mia satisfactione vorrei intendessi questo benche mi pare essere certo non mi habbi a essere dinegato fate d’intenderlo et avisatemene subito governandola con quella cautela et segreto che merita il caso e la fede che ho in voi ho costì Antonio e cotesti portinari et niente di meno non do questo aviso se non a voi solo et ho scritta questa di mia mano per non mi fidare d’altri, vorrei come dico intendessi questa parte da messer Cecho sanza che o voi o lui he conferissi con altri havendo tante diverse persecutioni harò tanto maggiore animo a resistere gagliardamente quando sarò certo questo favore non mi habbi a manchare costì bisognandomi aoperarli farò quelle cautioni et obligationi che saranno di bisogno. In Firenze a dì XXV di luglio 1478.
Vostro Lorenzo de’ Medici.[230]