exhibit the grandeur of the house
of Medici and of the government, two military spectacles were presented,
one performed by men on horseback, who went through the evolutions of
a field engagement, and the other representing the storming of a
town; everything being conducted with admirable order and the greatest
imaginable brilliancy.

During these transactions in Florence, the rest of Italy, though at
peace, was filled with apprehension of the power of the Turks, who
continued to attack the Christians, and had taken Negropont, to the
great disgrace and injury of the Christian name. About this time died
Borso, marquis of Ferrara, who was succeeded by his brother Ercole.
Gismondo da Rimini, the inveterate enemy of the church also expired, and
his natural brother Roberto, who was afterward one of the best generals
of Italy, succeeded him. Pope Paul died, and was succeeded by Sixtus IV.
previously called Francesco da Savona, a man of the very lowest origin,
who by his talents had become general of the order of St. Francis, and
afterward cardinal. He was the first who began to show how far a pope
might go, and how much that which was previously regarded as sinful lost
its iniquity when committed by a pontiff. Among others of his family
were Piero and Girolamo, who, according to universal belief, were his
sons, though he designated them by terms reflecting less scandal on
his character. Piero being a priest, was advanced to the dignity of a
cardinal, with the title of St. Sixtus. To Girolamo he gave the city
of Furli, taken from Antonio Ordelaffi, whose ancestors had held that
territory for many generations. This ambitious method of procedure made
him more regarded by the princes of Italy, and all sought to obtain
his friendship. The duke of Milan gave his natural daughter Caterina to
Girolamo, with the city of Imola, which he had taken from Taddeo degli
Alidossi, as her portion. New matrimonial alliances were formed between
the duke and king Ferrando; Elisabetta, daughter of Alfonso, the king's
eldest son, being united to Giovan Galeazzo, the eldest son of the duke.

Italy being at peace, the principal employment of her princes was to
watch each other, and strengthen their own influence by new alliances,
leagues, or friendships. But in the midst of this repose, Florence
endured great oppression from her principal citizens, and the
infirmities of Piero incapacitated him from restraining their ambition.
However, to relieve hi