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with complaints and charges against this city； and spread the story of
our misfortunes over the whole of Italy； we did not wish to slander so
just and pious a republic； with the baseness and perfidy of one wicked
citizen； whose cruelty and avarice； had we known them before our ruin
was complete； we should have endeavored to satiate （though indeed they
are insatiable）； and with one…half of our property have saved the
rest。 But the opportunity is past； we are compelled to have recourse
to you； and beg that you will succor the distresses of your subjects；
that others may not be deterred by our example from submitting
themselves to your authority。 And if our extreme distress cannot
prevail with you to assist us； be induced； by your fear of the wrath
of God； who has seen his temple plundered and burned； and his people
betrayed in his bosom。〃 Having said this they threw themselves on the
ground； crying aloud； and praying that their property and their
country might be restored to them； and that if the Signory could not
give them back their honor； they would； at least； restore husbands to
their wives； and children to their fathers。 The atrocity of the affair
having already been made known； and now by the living words of the
sufferers presented before them； excited the compassion of the
magistracy。 They ordered the immediate return of Astorre； who being
tried； was found guilty； and admonished。 They sought the goods of the
inhabitants of Seravezza； all that could be recovered was restored to
them； and as time and circumstance gave opportunity； they were
compensated for the rest。
Complaints were made against Rinaldo degli Albizzi； that he carried on
the war； not for the advantage of the Florentine people； but his own
private emolument； that as soon as he was appointed commissary； he
lost all desire to take Lucca； for it was sufficient for him to
plunder the country； fill his estates with cattle； and his house with
booty； and； not content with what his own satellites took； he
purchased that of the soldiery； so that instead of a commissary he
became a merchant。 These calumnies coming to his ears； disturbed the
temper of this proud but upright man； more than quite became his
dignity。 He was so exasperated against the citizens and magistracy；
that without waiting for or asking permission； he returned to
Florence； and； presenting himself before the Council of Ten； he said
that he well knew how difficult and dangerous a thing it was to serve
an unruly people and a divided city； for the one listens to every
report； the other pursues improper measures； they neglect to reward
good conduct； and heap censure upon whatever appears doubtful； so that
victory wins no applause； error is accused by all； and if vanquished；
universal condemnation is incurred； from one's own party through envy；
and from enemies through hatred； persecution results。 He confessed
that the baseness of the present calumnies had conquered his patience
and changed the temper of his mind； but he would say； he had never；
for fear of a false accusation； avoided doing what appeared to him
beneficial to the city。 However； he trusted the magistrates would in
future be more ready to defend their fellow…citizens； so that the
latter might continue anxious to effect the prosperity of their
country； that as it was not customary at Florence to award triumphs
for success； they ought at least to be protected from calumny； and
that being citizens themselves； and at any moment liable to false
accusations； they might easily conceive how painful it is to an
upright mind to be oppressed with slander。 The Ten endeavored； as well
as circumstances would admit； to soothe the acerbity of his feelings；
and confided the care of the expedition to Neri di Gino and Alamanno
Salviati； who； instead of overrunning the country； advanced near to
Lucca。 As the weather had become extremely cold； the forces
established themselves at Campannole； which seemed to the commissaries
waste of time； and wishing to draw nearer the place； the soldiery
refused to comply； although the Ten had insisted they should pitch
their camp before the city； and would not hear of any excuse。
At that time there lived at Florence； a very distinguished architect；
named Filippo di Ser Brunelleschi； of whose works our city is full；
and whose merit was so extraordinary； that after his death his statue
in marble was erected in the principal church； with an inscription
underneath； which still bears testimony to those who read it； of his
great talents。 This man pointed out； that in consequence of the
relative positions of the river Serchio and the city of Lucca； the
wastes of the river might be made to inundate the surrounding country；
and place the city in a kind of lake。 His reasoning on this point
appeared so clear； and the advantage to the besiegers so obvious and
inevitable； that the Ten were induced to make the experiment。 The
result； however； was quite contrary to their expectation； and produced
the utmost disorder in the Florentine camp； for the Lucchese raised
high embankments in the direction of the ditch made by our people to
conduct the waters of the Serchio； and one night cut through the
embankment of the ditch itself； so that having first prevented the
water from taking the course designed by the architect； they now
caused it to overflow the plain； and compelled the Florentines；
instead of approaching the city as they wished； to take a more remote
position。
The design having failed； the Council of Ten； who had been re…elected；
sent as commissary； Giovanni Guicciardini； who encamped before Lucca；
with all possible expedition。 Pagolo Guinigi finding himself thus
closely pressed； by the advice of Antonio del Rosso； then
representative of the Siennese at Lucca； sent Salvestro Trento and
Leonardo Bonvisi to Milan； to request assistance from the duke； but
finding him indisposed to comply； they secretly engaged； on the part
of the people； to deliver their governor up to him and give him
possession of the place； at the same time intimating； that if he did
not immediately follow this advice； he would not long have the
opportunity； since it was the intention of Pagolo to surrender the
city to the Florentines； who were very anxious to obtain it。 The duke
was so much alarmed with this idea； that； setting aside all other
considerations； he caused Count Francesco Sforza； who was engaged in
his service； to make a public request for permission to go to Naples；
and having obtained it； he proceeded with his forces directly to
Lucca； though the Florentines； aware of the deception； and
apprehensive of the consequences； had sent to the count； Boccacino
Alamanni； his friend； to frustrate this arrangement。 Upon the arrival
of the count at Lucca； the Florentines removed their camp to
Librafatta； and the count proceeded immediately to Pescia； where
Pagolo Diacceto was lieutenant governor； who； promoted by fear rather
than any better motive； fled to Pistoia； and if the place had not been
defended by Giovanni Malavolti； to whom the command was intrusted； it
would have been lost。 The count failing in his attempt went to Borgo a
Buggiano which he took； and burned the castle of Stigliano； in the
same neighborhood。
The Florentines being informed of these disasters； found they must
have recourse to those remedies which upon former occasions had often
proved useful。 Knowing that with mercenary soldiers； when force is
insufficient； corruption commonly prevails； they offered the count a
large sum of money on condition that he should quit the city； and give
it up to them。 The count finding that no more money was to be had from
Lucca； resolved to take it of those who had it to dispense； and agreed
with the Florentines； not to give them Lucca； which for decency he
could not consent to； but to withdraw his troops； and abandon it； on
condition of receiving fifty thousand ducats； and having made this
agreement； to induce the Lucchese to excuse him to the duke； he
consented that they should expel their tyrant。
Antonio del Rosso； as we remarked above； was Siennese ambassador at
Lucca； and with the authority of the count he contrived the ruin of
Pagolo Guinigi。 The heads of the conspiracy were Pierro Cennami and
Giovanni da Chivizzano。 The count resided upon the Serchio； at a short
distance from the city； and with him was Lanzilao； the son of Pagolo。
The conspirators； about forty in number； went armed at night in search
of Pagolo； who； on hearing the noise they made； came toward them quite
astonished； and demanded the cause of their visit； to which Piero
Cennami replied； that they had long been governed by him； and led
about against the enemy； to die either by hunger or the sword； but
were resolved to govern themselves for the future； and demanded the
keys of the city and the treasure。 Pagolo said the treasure was
consumed； but the keys and himself were in their power； he only