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various missions, amongst others to Louis XII and Cesare Borgia. Served under Piero di Tommaso Soderini, who was elected Gonfaloniere for life in 1502; organized the Florentine militia. His work afforded him extraordinary opportunity for studying various types of princes and of realizing the folly of employing mercenaries. On the return of the Medici to Florence (1512) he lost office and was banished for a year; in 1513 he was involved in a conspiracy against them and was imprisoned, tortured, and then pronounced not guilty. He retired to San Casciano, and studied politics and history. He was reconciled with the Medici in 1519 and again went on various missions, but when in 1527 they were again driven out of Florence he lost his secretarial post, and died shortly afterwards in extreme poverty. He was buried in Santa Croce. Chief works: Il Principe, L'Arte della Guerra, Le Istorie Fiorentine, Discorso sopra la prima Deca di T. Livio, La Mandragola, comedy in five acts, La Clizia, another comedy, imitated from Plautus, I Decennali, in terza rima, a history of events from 1494 to 1509, a few Rime, and Capitoli. [Opere, 6 vols., Firenze, 1873-7.]
Bembo (page 211). Born at Venice; studied Greek at Messina under Lascaris, 1492. Lived at Ferrara 1498-1500, where he became a friend of Ariosto; fell in love with Lucrezia Borgia. Went to Rome in 1505, and to Urbino (v. Castiglione, Cortegiano). Returned to Rome 1512, and was made papal secretary; fell in love again and lived with La Morosina, by whom he had three children; she died in 1535. Held many benefices from Leo X, and went on missions. Lived at Padua, 1521-4; returned to Rome; in 1530 was at Venice, and was ordered by the Council of Ten to continue the Venetian History which Andrea Navagero left unfinished at his death. Was nearly poisoned by a nephew, and was made a cardinal by Paul III. Bishop of Gubbio 1543, of Bergamo 1544,
