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 Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow LETTER VII. COPY OF A LETTER FROM HIS MOST CHRISTIAN MAJESTY KING LOUIS XII. OF FRANCE TO THE SIGNORI OF FLORENCE, DATED AT ROUEN, 27 JULY, 1500. - The Historical, Political, and Diplomatic Writings, vol. 3 (Diplomatic Missions 1498-1505)

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LETTER VII. COPY OF A LETTER FROM HIS MOST CHRISTIAN MAJESTY KING LOUIS XII. OF FRANCE TO THE SIGNORI OF FLORENCE, DATED AT ROUEN, 27 JULY, 1500. - Niccolo Machiavelli, The Historical, Political, and Diplomatic Writings, vol. 3 (Diplomatic Missions 1498-1505) [1498]

Edition used:

The Historical, Political, and Diplomatic Writings of Niccolo Machiavelli, tr. from the Italian, by Christian E. Detmold (Boston, J. R. Osgood and company, 1882). Vol. 3.

Part of: The Historical, Political, and Diplomatic Writings, 4 vols.

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LETTER VII.

COPY OF A LETTER FROM HIS MOST CHRISTIAN MAJESTY KING LOUIS XII. OF FRANCE TO THE SIGNORI OF FLORENCE, DATED AT ROUEN, 27 JULY, 1500.

Louis, King of France, etc., etc.: —

Very dear Friends, —

We have been informed only a few days since of the great disorders that have occurred in the army engaged in the siege of Pisa, in consequence of the mutiny and quarrel of several ill-disciplined bodies of infantry forming part of that camp; and who without any cause have risen and left the camp and the siege without the knowledge or consent of M. de Beaumont, our lieutenant, or that of any of the captains or men of rank who were in the camp; which occurrence has caused us as much regret as anything that could possibly have happened. And inasmuch as, besides the injury which it has caused you, it touches our honor and reputation, we are absolutely determined and resolved to remedy and provide for what has occurred in such manner as fully to maintain our power and authority. And to effect this purpose we have decided to leave nothing undone, as you shall see and know very soon by the result. We have therefore sent our Major-domo Corcou,* whom amongst other things we have directed to make us an exact and true report upon this affair, and how these disorders originated and progressed, so that we may provide against them as becomes our honor and to your satisfaction. For the present we have thought, and have so communicated to your ambassadors here, that for the good of the cause, and for the re-establishment of our army, it would be best that some one else should select some suitable spot on your territory where the army might stop and go into camp, without retreating any further this way. And for this purpose we have written to and especially enjoined upon M. de Beaumont and all his captains, as they value their lives, not to move, nor leave or abandon the army, without having fresh orders from us.

We have equally written and made known to your neighbors, that the matter of Pisa touches us personally, and that their giving aid, comfort, and support to its inhabitants will cause us to regard them as our declared enemies. That we have had them advised of this, so that henceforth they may avoid doing so, otherwise we shall provide such remedies as we may deem proper.

You must conclude anyhow to settle this matter in such manner that it shall be terminated with honor to ourselves, and with advantage to yourselves and your republic. And finally we beg you to show your spirit in a matter that concerns you so closely; and to employ all your forces and power to that effect. And be assured that in acting thus we make no doubt, and apprehend no difficulty, but what you will in a short time oblige the city of Pisa to return to her duty.

All that we have said and declared in this letter we have also caused to be said and declared to your ambassadors, so that they may also communicate it to you, etc., etc.

Addio, dear lords and friends.

MISSION TO THE COURT OF FRANCE.*

18 July, 1500.

[* ]Duplessis, Seigneur de Courçon.

[* ]This mission had its cause in the events referred to in this commission. Buonaccorsi refers to it on page 34 of his Diary; and the account he gives of it merits being reproduced here, on account of the light it throws upon the whole affair: —

“After the occurrences at Pisa which we have related, the republic was advised to send messengers to the king for the purpose of explaining to him that it was not the fault of the republic that the troops had not persisted in the enterprise against Pisa; for these troops had left the camp in a manner so discreditable to the honor of the king, that it was to be apprehended that their commander and captains would throw the blame of it upon the republic of Florence, as in fact they did. Francesco della Casa and Niccolo Machiavelli were therefore appointed for that purpose, as they had been personally witnesses of the occurrences. They were kindly received by the king, who replied to their address, that he would show how greatly he was displeased at such conduct on the part of his troops; and for this purpose he resolved to send one of his Major-domos, called M. de Corcou, to investigate the affair on the spot, and to make full report to him of the same. The said M. de Corcou came and wanted the troops to return to camp before Pisa, and to carry on the war effectually. But this was refused, although he maintained that that was the only way to press the Pisans and oblige them to surrender. This refusal was caused by the fears which everybody entertained in consequence of the previous conduct of the French troops. M. Corcou left Florence most unfavorably disposed towards that republic; he reported such a mass of falsehoods to his Majesty the king, as to arouse his indignation against the Florentines to the highest degree; so that he sent for the two envoys on the 15th of October, and complained bitterly to them at having been thus dishonored. He asked them what course he ought to pursue in their judgment; for having been obliged to pay a considerable sum of money to the Swiss to make them return to their own country without robbing the Florentine merchants, he demanded the reimbursement of this sum anyhow. For this purpose the king wanted to send one of his chamberlains, named Edouard Buliot, to the Signoria, to come to some understanding on these matters. All the replies and arguments of the Florentine envoys were of no use, for his Majesty remained firm in his demands. The envoys wrote to the Signoria of the king’s displeasure, and, seeing no way of avoiding it, the Signoria assumed this expense, and sent a new ambassador, which was Pier Francesco Tosinghi.”