Contents
The Beguines and the Weaving Brothers
In 1180, Lambert of Liége founds the first Beguinage; the rapid spread of the Order; invention of the kindred guild of the Beghards or Fratres Textores
In 1216 the invention of the Tertiary Orders of St. Dominic and St. Francis supplies a monastic equivalent for Beguinism 12
The Beguines are suppressed; but their ideas, stealthily kept alive in quiet places, burst out again in the XVI. century 38
The Convent of Helfta
Gertrude of Helfta enters the Convent of Rodardesdorf about 1234; arrival of her sister Mechtild 46
The Attraction of the Abyss
The Schism
The Pope comes to Avignon. The Popes remain there seventy years. In 1377 the Pope re-enters Rome 95
The rumour grows that his election was invalid. In September, 1378, Robert of Geneva is elected Pope at Fondi as Clement VII. 100
Valentine Visconti
People say that Valentine is a witch, and that she and her husband compass the King’s madness 137
The French Claim to Milan
Her marriage contract provides that on extinction of male descent she shall inherit Milan 184
Orleans and Angoulême, in 1441, send Dunois to Milan to demand the restitution of Asti from their uncle Filippo Maria Visconti 197
In December, 1453, Venice incites the Dauphin to seize the Milanese and expel Sforza—She professes her readiness to aid him with men or money; or she will do as much for the Duke of Orleans in the same undertaking. (A note quotes Venetian documents to show how, about the same time, Genoa, Milan, Venice, and Florence were taking measures to secure Italy against invasion.)
Louis XI. becomes the firm ally of Sforza, but discards Savoy, Orleans, Dunois, and Anjou 245
January 16, 1484. Venice sends to Charles VIII. and to the young Duke of Orleans pointing out the French claim to Venice and to Naples
The Embassy is renewed in February; but a new peace in Italy and the struggles of Orleans for the Regency in France postpone any further plans for a French invasion
The invasion of Italy by Charles VIII. takes place in 1494 at the instigation, not of Naples, but of Milan 252
Illness detains Orleans at Asti, within a league or two of Lodovico Sforza at Milan 252
Venice and Florence begin to intrigue with Orleans, and suggest that the French take Milan instead of Naples 254
In March, 1495, Venice, Milan, the Emperor, Castile, and Arragon unite in a league to expel the French, unless they retire without offence 260
Peace between France and the League is concluded in October, 1495—The French evacuate Italy 265
Florence entreats Orleans to invade Italy, and insists upon his rights to Milan, 1497 266
The Malatestas of Rimini
Carlo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, being childless, adopts his dead brother’s three natural sons in 1427 274
In 1430 Gismondo, his younger brother, drives back the Papal armies and delivers Rimini, being at the time twelve years of age 279
Gismondo succeeds, drives back the armies of Urbino and Pesaro, betroths himself to the daughter of Carmagnola, and marries Ginevra of Este, 1432 281
In 1440 the wife of Gismondo dies suddenly—In 1442 he marries, not Isotta, but the daughter of Sforza 287
The effigy of Gismondo is buried in the streets of Rome, and he is excommunicated 297
He hires himself to the Venetians, conducts the campaign of the Morea, and brings home the bones of Gemisthus Pletho in 1465 298
The Ladies of Milan
The Duchess Bonne and her children leave the conduct of affairs to Cecco Simonetta, secretary of the late Duke and of his father, the great Francesco Sforza
He falls out with the favourite of the Duchess, who persuades her to recall her brother-in-law, Lodovico il Moro 302
His nephew, Giangaleazzo Sforza, marries Isabel of Arragon, granddaughter of the King of Naples 305
Isabel appeals to Naples, and induces her father and grandfather to declare war on Lodovico in defence of the rights of Giangaleazzo 306
Lodovico invites the French to invade Italy in support of the French claim to Naples, 1494 307
The Flight of Piero de’ Medici
The French at Pisa
Gabriel’ Maria Visconti, Lord of Pisa, declares himself the vassal of the King of France, 1404 340
Florence remonstrates with Boucicaut, her ally, asserting that she has more right than the French have to Pisa 345-8
Meanwhile the Pisans expel Gabriel’ Maria Visconti, who takes refuge at Genoa, and demands succour of the French King, his liege lord 350
The Pisans refuse to accept Gabriel’ Maria, but offer to give themselves directly to France, even as Genoa had done before 351
Boucicaut induces Gabriel’ Maria to accept a compensation, and sends a French garrison and a galley of provisions to Pisa 352
The Pisans seize the crew of the galley, cast them into prison, and provision the city for a long resistance at Boucicaut’s expense 352
Boucicaut persuades the King of France to accept the Florentines as his vassals for Pisa 354
The King agrees and signs a treaty to that effect; yet in the next year he declares Burgundy and Orleans Lords of Pisa, and bids Boucicaut help them against the Florentines. Boucicaut refuses
The Florentines take Pisa. Anger in France. The Duke of Orleans casts the Florentine ambassadors into prison: they are released by his widow after his death
Charles solemnly swears to Florence that he will restore Pisa on his return from Naples 371
The Pisans send an advocate to the King in Rome, beseeching him not to deliver them to Florence 373
Louis de Ligny—Luxemburg, with other adherents of the party of Orleans, favours the Pisans’ cause 376
The King promises to let the Florentines know his decision so soon as he arrives at Asti 385