My work on Filippo Strozzi began as a doctoral dissertation submitted to Cornell University. The archival research which forms its heart and core was made possible by funds from the Gertrude A. Gilmore and Theodor Mommsen fellowships and by a grant from the Center for International Studies at Cornell. I am grateful to the staffs of the various archives I consulted who made the treasures in their trust available to me, and to the personnel of the American Academy in Rome, my home during the final stages of research. I appreciate Richard Goldthwaite's sharing his interest in Filippo Strozzi with me at the project's inception. Special thanks go to my dear friend Reina Barile who made her home mine whenever I was in Florence. For awakening in me a deep appreciation of the value of works in my life, express thanks go to Ira Progoff and the Intensive Journal.

In preparing the manuscript for publication I benefited greatly from Felix Gilbert's suggestions and from John H. Elliott's thoughtful reading and incisive comments which guided my footsteps on the path from dissertation to book. My gratitude to Helmut Koenigsberger reaches beyond these pages. The generosity and cheerful encouragement he extended me despite often discouraging barriers of time and distance buoyed me along the way. Most of all I wish to express appreciation to my helpmate and husband Jim to whom this book is dedicated. Were it not for his unwavering faith and support to hearten my faltering stride, this book would never have materialized.