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Front Page  Titles (by Subject) LETTER V. - The Historical, Political, and Diplomatic Writings, vol. 4 (Diplomatic Missions 1506-1527)
LETTER V. - Niccolo Machiavelli, The Historical, Political, and Diplomatic Writings, vol. 4 (Diplomatic Missions 1506-1527) [1506]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. 4.
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- Missions. (continued.)
- Missions to Various Parts of the Florentine Dominion. *
- I.: From the Magistracy of the Ten to Niccolo Machiavelli, Secretary, In Mugello. 3 January, 1506.
- II.
- III.: To Niccolo Machiavelli.
- IV.
- V.: To Niccolo Machiavelli. 5 March, 1506.
- VI.
- VII.: To Niccolo Machiavelli, At Poppi. 7 March, 1506.
- Second Mission to the Court of Rome.
- Instructions Given to Niccolo Machiavelli, Sent to Rome.
- Letter I.
- Letter II.
- Letter III.
- Letter IV.
- Letter V.
- Letter VI.
- Letter VII.
- Letter VIII.
- Letter IX.
- Letter X.
- Letter XI.
- Letter XII.
- Letter XIII.
- Letter XIV.
- Letter XV.
- Letter XVI.
- Letter XVII.
- Letter XVIII.
- Letter XIX.
- Letter XX.
- Letter XXI.
- Letter XXII.
- Letter XXIII.
- Letter XXIV.
- Letter XXV.
- Letter XXVI.
- Letter XXVII.
- Letter XXVIII.
- Letter XXIX.
- Letter XXX.
- Letter XXXI.
- Letter XXXII.
- Letter XXXIII.
- Letter XXXIV.
- Letter XXXV.
- Letter XXXVI.
- Letter XXXVII.
- Letter XXXVIII.
- Letter XXXIX.
- Letter Xl.
- Third Mission to Sienna. *
- Letter I.
- Letter II.
- Letter III.
- Mission to the Emperor of Germany. *
- Letter I.
- Letter II.
- Letter III. *
- Letter IV.
- Letter V.
- Letter VI.
- Letter VII.
- Letter VIII.
- Letter IX.
- Letter X.
- Letter XI.
- Letter XII.
- Letter XIII.
- Letter XIV.
- Second Mission Into the Interior of the State. *
- Letters Patent.
- Third Commission to the Army Before Pisa. *
- Letter I. to Niccolo Capponi, Commissary-general, Etc.
- Letter II.
- Commission to Niccolo Machiavelli, Resolved Upon By the Magistracy of the Ten On the 10 Th of March, 1509. *
- Letter III.
- Letter IV.
- Letter V.
- Letter VI.
- Letter VII.
- Letter VIII.
- Letter IX.
- Letter X.
- Letter XI.
- Letter XII.
- Letter XIII.
- Letter XIV.
- Letter XV.
- Letter XVI.
- Letter XVII.
- Letter XVIII.
- Letter XIX.
- Letter XX.
- Letter XXI.
- Letter XXII.
- Letter XXIII.
- Letter XXIV.
- Mission to Mantua On Business With the Emperor of Germany. *
- Commission Given to Niccolo Machiavelli to Proceed to Mantua and Its Vicinity,
- Letter I.
- Letter II.
- Letter III.
- Letter IV.
- Letter V.
- Letter VI.
- Letter VII.
- Letter VIII.
- Letter IX.
- Letter X.
- Letter XI.
- Letter XII.
- Letter XIII.
- Third Mission to the Court of France. *
- Instructions From Piero Soderini, Gonfaloniere, to Niccolo Machiavelli,
- Letter I.
- Letter II.
- Letter III.
- Letter IV.
- Letter V.
- Letter VI. *
- Letter VII.
- Letter VIII.
- Letter IX.
- Letter X.
- Letter XI.
- Letter XII.
- Letter XIII.
- Letter XIV.
- Letter XV.
- Letter XVI.
- Letter XVII.
- Letter XVIII.
- Commission to the Interior of the State.
- Patent. We, the Ten of Liberty and Balia of the Florentine Republic,
- Commission to Sienna.
- Patent and Passport. We, the Ten of Liberty and Balia of the Florentine Republic,
- Mission to the Lord of Monaco.
- Patent and Passport. We, the Ten of Liberty and Balia of the Florentine Republic,
- The Purpose of the Convention to Be Concluded With Luciano Grimaldi, Lord of Monaco, Is As Follows: —
- Fourth Mission to the Court of France.
- Letters Patent.
- Instructions Given to Niccolo Machiavelli, Sent By the Illustrious Ten to Lombardy and France.
- Letter I.
- Letter II.
- Letter III.
- Letter IV.
- Commission to Pisa At the Time of the Council. *
- I.: The Ten to the Cardinals That Were At Pisa. 2 November, 1511.
- II.: The Ten to the Seigneur De Lautrec. 2 November, 1511.
- III.: The Ten to Niccolo Machiavelli. 3 November, 1511.
- IV. And V.
- Commission For Raising Troops.
- Letters Patent. We, Nine of the Ordinance and Florentine Militia, *
- Letter.
- Commissions to Pisa and Other Places Within and Without the Florentine Dominion.
- Letter I.
- Letter II.
- Letter III.
- Letter IV.
- Letters Patent. We, the Ten of Liberty and Balia of the Florentine Republic, Etc.,
- Letter V.
- Letter VI. *
- Letter VII.
- Letter VIII.
- Letter IX.
- Letter X.
- Letter XI.
- Mission to the Chapter of the Minorite Brothers At Carpi. *
- Instructions of the Eight of Practice. Deliberated, the 11th of May, 1521.
- Other Instructions By Father Hilarion.
- To the Most Reverend and Most Illustrious Cardinale Giulio De’ Medici.
- Mission to Venice.
- Credentials. Serenissimo Principi Et Excellentissimo Domino AndreÆ Gritti, Dei Gratia Duci Venetiarum Patr. Observ.
- Brief Instruction to You, Niccolo Machiavelli, As to What You Have to Do In Your Mission to Venice, By Our Order.
- Representations.
- Mission to the Army of the League, Engaged In the Siege of Cremona. *
- Instructions Given to Michiavelli By Francesco Guicciardini, Lieutenant of the Pope At the Army of the League.
- Mission to Francesco Guicciardini.
- Instructions to Niccolo Machiavelli, Sent By the Magistracy of the Eight of Practice to Messer Francesco Guicciardini, Lieutenant of His Holiness the Pope.
- Letter I.
- Letter II.
- Second Mission to Francesco Guicciardini.
- Instructions to Niccolo Machiavelli, Resolved By the Eight of Practice, 3 February, 1527.
- Letter I.
- Letter II.
- Letter III.
- Letter IV.
- Letter V.
- Letter VI.
- Letter VII.
- Letter VIII.
- Letter IX.
- Letter X.
- Letter XI.
- Letter XII.
- Letter XIII.
- Letter XIV.
- Letter XV.
- Letter XVI.
- Letter XVII.
- Letter XVIII.
- Letter XIX.
- Letter XX.
- Letter XXI.
- Miscellaneous Papers.
- Description of the Manner In Which the Duke Valentino Proceeded to Kill Vitellozzo Vitelli, Oliverotto Da Fermo, and the Signor Pagolo and the Duke Gravina Orsini. *
- Report On the Affairs of Germany.
- Second Report On the Affairs of Germany. Made 17 June, 1508.
- Discourse On the Affairs of Germany and On the Emperor.
- An Account of the Affairs of France.
- Of the Nature of the French.
- Confidential Instructions
LETTER V.
Magnificent Signori, etc.: —
I did not write to your Lordships yesterday, as I had nothing of interest to say, nor is there anything new to-day; nevertheless, to continue my habit whilst here, I deem it proper to write you a few lines and say that the imperial army has as yet made no movement; although the Count Guido writes in a letter received this morning that the said army was to start this morning for the purpose of making an advance. It is supposed that this news is not true, for if it were we ought to know something of it by this time, it being two o’clock of the night. But if the army has not started yet, it is believed that it cannot remain still much longer, and we hear from all sides that it is to break camp shortly and move forward. In Lombardy they do not believe it possible that the enemy can take any of the places which they intend to guard, for the people of the country seem resolved to defend themselves. They have with great rapidity made all the repairs and preparations; and I believe they will resist with great obstinacy, seeing the example of Milan and the other cities, which, notwithstanding that they were given to the enemy and received by him in good faith, were nevertheless first subjected to the payment of heavy contributions, and then actually sacked. This has so filled people’s minds with fear, that they will rather die than submit to similar inflictions. If the enemy comes into Tuscany, they will find the inhabitants similarly disposed, and will meet not only with the same, but even greater difficulties; for that country is not able to support the war the same as this, and the least impediment that holds them at bay may become the cause of their dispersion. This has been affirmed by certain Spaniards who were taken prisoners at Lodi by Messer Lodovico; they told him that their army was powerful and of such character that it would be an evil counsel to give to the army of the League to engage them in battle. But that there existed such a state of confusion amongst their commanders, that they did not know what to attempt with any hope of success; and that they were so poor that, if our troops were to delay action for any length of time, it would be impossible for their army to be successful in any attempt whatsoever. We shall therefore continue to watch them, and shall advise your Lordships from day to day of the enemy’s movements, and of the course which we shall adopt to avoid an engagement and to follow them. The best part that we can play in this game is to govern ourselves so that this Duke will have an inducement gladly to make some effort, taking good counsel and executing it still better; otherwise we might gain nothing but dishonor and loss. I know that his Lordship the Lieutenant has written about this to Rome and here; but I did not wish to omit letting you know; and as I have told you in my previous letter, so soon as I shall see the enemy move, and it is known what road he will take, I shall return with the plans and dispositions that are regarded here as the best for the defence of our country. I recommend myself to your Lordships, quæ bene valeant.
Servitor Niccolo Machiavelli. Parma, 14 February, 1527.
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