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sufficient to decide the fate of an expedition。 This defeat loaded the
king's troops with booty； and filled the Florentines with dismay； for
the city； besides the war； was afflicted with pestilence； which
prevailed so extensively； that all who possessed villas fled to them
to escape death。 This occasioned the defeat to be attended with
greater horror； for those citizens whose possessions lay in the Val di
Pesa and the Val d'Elsa； having retired to them； hastened to Florence
with all speed as soon as they heard of the disaster； taking with them
not only their children and their property； but even their laborers；
so that it seemed as if the enemy were expected every moment in the
city。 Those who were appointed to the management of the war；
perceiving the universal consternation； commanded the victorious
forces in the Perugino to give up their enterprise in that direction；
and march to oppose the enemy in the Val d'Elsa； who； after their
victory； plundered the country without opposition； and although the
Florentine army had so closely pressed the city of Perugia that it was
expected to fall into their hands every instant； the people preferred
defending their own possessions to endeavoring to seize those of
others。 The troops； thus withdrawn from the pursuit of their good
fortune； were marched to San Casciano； a castle within eight miles of
Florence； the leaders thinking they could take up no other position
till the relics of the routed army were assembled。 On the other hand；
the enemy being under no further restraint at Perugia； and emboldened
by the departure of the Florentines； plundered to a large amount in
the districts of Arezzo and Cortona； while those who under Alfonso；
duke of Calabria； had been victorious near Poggibonzi； took the town
itself； sacked Vico and Certaldo； and after these conquests and
pillagings encamped before the fortress of Colle； which was considered
very strong； and as the garrison was brave and faithful to the
Florentines； it was hoped they would hold the enemy at bay till the
republic was able to collect its forces。 The Florentines being at
Santo Casciano； and the enemy continuing to use their utmost exertions
against Colle； they determined to draw nearer； that the inhabitants
might be more resolute in their defense； and the enemy assail them
less boldly。 With this design they removed their camp from Santo
Casciano to Santo Geminiano； about five miles from Colle； and with
light cavalry and other suitable forces were able every day to annoy
the duke's camp。 All this； however； was insufficient to relieve the
people of Colle； for； having consumed their provisions； they were
compelled to surrender on the thirteenth of November； to the great
grief of the Florentines； and joy of the enemy； more especially of the
Siennese； who； besides their habitual hatred of the Florentines； had a
particular animosity against the people of Colle。
It was now the depth of winter； and the weather so unsuitable for war；
that the pope and the king； either designing to hold out a hope of
peace； or more quietly to enjoy the fruit of their victories； proposed
a truce for three months to the Florentines； and allowed them ten days
to consider the reply。 The offer was eagerly accepted； but as wounds
are well known to be more painful after the blood cools than when they
were first received； this brief repose awakened the Florentines to a
consciousness of the miseries they had endured； and the citizens
openly laid the blame upon each other； pointing out the errors
committed in the management of the war； the expenses uselessly
incurred； and the taxes unjustly imposed。 These matters were boldly
discussed； not only in private circles； but in the public councils；
and one individual even ventured to turn to Lorenzo de' Medici； and
say； 〃The city is exhausted； and can endure no more war； it is
therefore necessary to think of peace。〃 Lorenzo was himself aware of
the necessity； and assembled the friends in whose wisdom and fidelity
he had the greatest confidence； when it was at once concluded； that as
the Venetians were lukewarm and unfaithful； and the duke in the power
of his guardians； and involved in domestic difficulties； it would be
desirable by some new alliance to give a better turn to their affairs。
They were in doubt whether to apply to the king or to the pope； but
having examined the question in all sides； they preferred the
friendship of the king as more suitable and secure； for the short
reigns of the pontiffs； the changes ensuing upon each succession； the
disregard shown by their church toward temporal princes； and the still
greater want of respect for them exhibited in her determinations；
render it impossible for a secular prince to trust a pontiff； or
safely to share his fortune； for an adherent of the pope will have a
companion in victory； but in defeat must stand alone； while the
pontiff is sustained by his spiritual power and influence。 Having
therefore decided that the king's friendship would be of the greatest
utility to them； they thought it would be most easily and certainly
obtained by Lorenzo's presence； for in proportion to the confidence
they evinced toward him； the greater they imagined would be the
probability of removing his impressions of past enmities。 Lorenzo
having resolved to go to Naples； recommended the city and government
to the care of Tommaso Soderini； who was at that time Gonfalonier of
Justice。 He left Florence at the beginning of December； and having
arrived at Pisa； wrote to the government to acquaint them with the
cause of his departure。 The Signory； to do him honor； and enable him
the more effectually to treat with the king； appointed him ambassador
from the Florentine people； and endowed him with full authority to
make such arrangements as he thought most useful for the republic。
At this time Roberto da San Severino； with Lodovico and Ascanio
（Sforza their elder brother being dead） again attacked Milan； in order
to recover the government。 Having taken Tortona； and the city and the
whole state being in arms； the duchess Bona was advised to restore the
Sforzeschi； and to put a stop to civil contentions by admitting them
to the government。 The person who gave this advice was Antonio
Tassino； of Ferrara； a man of low origin； who； coming to Milan； fell
into the hands of the duke Galeazzo； and was given by him to his
duchess for her valet。 He； either from his personal attractions； or
some secret influence； after the duke's death attained such influence
over the duchess； that he governed the state almost at his will。 This
greatly displeased the minister Cecco； whom prudence and long
experience had rendered invaluable； and who； to the utmost of his
power； endeavored to diminish the authority of Tassino with the
duchess and other members of the government。 The latter； aware of
this； to avenge himself for the injury； and secure defenders against
Cecco； advised the duchess to recall the Sforzeschi； which she did；
without communicating her design to the minister； who； when it was
done； said to her； 〃You have taken a step which will deprive me of my
life； and you of the government。〃 This shortly afterward took place；
for Cecco was put to death by Lodovico； and Tassino； being expelled
from the dukedom； the duchess was so enraged that she left Milan； and
gave up the care of her son to Lodovico； who； becoming sole governor
of the dukedom； caused； as will be hereafter seen； the ruin of Italy。
Lorenzo de' Medici had set out for Naples； and the truce between the
parties was in force； when； quite unexpectedly； Lodovico Fregoso；
being in correspondence with some persons of Serezana； entered the
place by stealth； took possession of it with an armed force； and
imprisoned the Florentine governor。 This greatly offended the Signory；
for they thought the whole had been concerted with the connivance of
King Ferrando。 They complained to the duke of Calabria； who was with
the army at Sienna； of a breach of the truce； and he endeavored to
prove； by letters and embassies； that it had occurred without either
his own or his father's knowledge。 The Florentines； however； found
themselves in a very awkward predicament； being destitute of money；
the head of the republic in the power of the king； themselves engaged
in a long…standing war with the latter and the pope； in a new one with
the Genoese； and entirely without friends； for they had no confidence
in the Venetians； and on account of its changeable and unsettled state
they were rather apprehensive of Milan。 They had thus only one hope；
and that depended upon Lorenzo's success with the king。
Lorenzo arrived at Naples by sea； and was most honorably received； not
only by Ferrando； but by the whole city； his coming having excited the
greatest expectation； for it being generally understood that the war
was undertaken for the sole purpose of effecting his destruction； the
power of his enemies in