POSTMAN CAUSES CRISIS IN RENAISSANCE FLORENCE

FLORENCE. IMPORTANT LONG AUTOGRAPH LETTER ABOUT THE FALL OF NICCOLÒ CAPPONI AS LEADER OF THE REPUBLIC OF FLORENCE, in Latin, deliberately unsigned ('I have not appended a signature...'), to 'P' [ possibly the papal ambassador Pier Francesco Portinari with whom Capponi had been in contact], giving a detailed and dramatic account of the as yet unresolved events in Florence leading to the fall of Capponi as Gonfaloniere; he relates how, through carelessness of the courier, on 15 April 1529 during the elections for six new officials, a bundle of letters from Giachonotto Serragli in Rome to Capponi was intercepted and read by a rival Jacopo Gherardi, who, thus learning of arrangements of secret meetings to discuss topics 'dangerous and rash to commit...to a letter' and concluding that this represented a danger to the State, confronted Capponi who at first made light of the matter and then begged Gherardi not to tell anyone about it; Gherardi encouraged Capponi to be of good spirit but immediately showed the letters to the Magistrates, Capponi was accused of treachery before the Senate and, despite making a long speech in his own defence, was deposed; the writer goes on to report how a new law was immediately promulgated governing the conduct of the Gonfaloniere and other high ranking officials ('...only allowed to open public or private letters given to him alone...'), how the Capponi family tried to obtain bail for Niccolò through an appeal to the new Gonfaloniere Carducci ('...They say that he continually protests his innocence...') but that the Senate opposed bail and the final decision is still awaited ('...A severe judgement is desired by many. I, for several reasons, expect a ...light sentence...'); he ends by commenting that this was an appalling mistake by the courier but that, as far as he is able, he 'will not allow it to go unavenged...', 4 pages, quarto, original dispatch slits, trace of seal, recipient's endorsement ('Del casa di Nicco Capponi'), with a modern translation, Florence, 20 April 1529

Following the Sack of Rome in 1527 and the subsequent imprisonment of Pope Clement VII (a Medici), the people of Florence expelled the Medici family and on 17 May 1527 declared the city a Republic. The anti-Medicean, Niccolò Capponi who was elected Gonfaloniere was a moderate and realist who came, in his two terms in office, to believe that reconciliation with the Pope, who himself was attempting reconciliation with Charles V, would avert a later siege of the city by combined papal and imperial forces. Capponi therefore maintained links with the papal court and suspicions that he was involved in treacherous discussions with the Medici faction grew stronger. The interception of his letters though a fault of the courier is dramatically related in the present letter as are the ensuing events in the city. The letters contained little that was incriminating, but did mention negotiations with the Pope and the implication of complicity between Capponi and papal interests was clear. Capponi was deposed and the event he had hoped to forestall, the siege of Florence by imperial and papal forces began on 12 October 1529, and Capponi died less than one week later on 18 October 1529 while on a diplomatic mission to Charles V.

The presence of the dispatch slits, the traces of seal and the recipient's endorsement make it certain that this letter is the original and that it was sent.

'...he asked him what these perplexing letters meant to him, what they signified; he at first made light of the matter. Declaring that there was nothing in them relating to business that should cause any anxiety, he demanded them back from Gherardi. He said he would not return them, stating repeatedly that they seemed to him of no small importance. When indeed Capponi saw that his demands were in vain, with an uncertain expression he strove with prayers to have them returned to him. He begged, he pleaded and besought Gherardi, if he cared about him and his safety, that he should tell no one about this, nor should he allow them to be given to anyone for however so much money...

...Therefore on the next day...the youth of Florence marched forth armed into the forum, beneath standards and arranged like soldiers, were drawn up against violence. The leading young nobles of the state, a hundred in all, followed the public order. There was no disturbance anywhere, nor was any noise heard on that day. But there was an amazing silence throughout the forum and the city...The elections for leader were held with immense public support...with an edict proclaimed beforehand that people should ensure that no arms be secretly carried by anyone in the voting assembly...'

£1,500