Final answer:
Niccolò Machiavelli is the Renaissance author who would agree with the statement that 'The ends justify the means,' as reflected in his political treatise, 'The Prince.'
Step-by-step explanation:
The Renaissance author who would agree with the statement "The ends justify the means" is Niccolò Machiavelli. Machiavelli, a Florentine diplomat, politician, historian, philosopher, and writer during the Renaissance, is best known for his political treatise, The Prince (Il Principe), which is often interpreted as advising rulers that the pursuit of power can require unethical means. The other authors listed, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus, and Petrarch, were more focused on humanism, the arts, and classical learning rather than the political machinations described by Machiavelli.