Introduction

Abstract

This is a book on sixteenth-century Italy with six main protagonists. The first three are War, Famine and Plague. In the vision of St John the Evangelist on Patmos they appear as fearful horsemen all set to go on a rampage among men in the days leading up to the Day of Judgement. There is a fourth horseman, our fourth protagonist, Death. He always rides beside them, being one of their main consequences, and often, but not always, the most horrific.