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were not only disregarded； but converted to Rinaldo's prejudice； and
caused the laying down of arms； which had given his enemies an
opportunity of banishing him。 In consequence of this； the government
thought it would be advisable to restore and indemnify Rinaldo； in
case Niccolo came into Tuscany and were joined by him。 Their
apprehensions were increased by their being unable to account for
Niccolo's departure from Lombardy； and his leaving one enterprise
almost completed； to undertake another so entirely doubtful； which
they could not reconcile with their ideas of consistency； except by
supposing some new design had been adopted； or some hidden treachery
intended。 They communicated their fears to the pope； who was now
sensible of his error in having endowed the cardinal with too much
authority。
CHAPTER VI
The pope imprisons the cardinal and assists the Florentines
Difference of opinion between the count and the Venetians
respecting the management of the war。 The Florentines reconcile
themThe count wishes to go into Tuscany to oppose Piccinino； but
is prevented by the VenetiansNiccolo Piccinino in TuscanyHe
takes Marradi； and plunders the neighborhood of Florence
Description of MarradiCowardice of Bartolomeo OrlandiniBrave
resistance of Castel San NiccoloSan Niccolo surrenders
Piccinino attempts to take Cortona； but fails。
While the Florentines were thus anxious； fortune disclosed the means
of securing themselves against the patriarch's malevolence。 The
republic everywhere exercised the very closest espionage over
epistolary communication； in order to discover if any persons were
plotting against the state。 It happened that letters were intercepted
at Monte Pulciano； which had been written by the patriarch to Niccolo
without the pope's knowledge； and although they were written in an
unusual character； and the sense so involved that no distinct idea
could be extracted； the obscurity itself； and the whole aspect of the
matter so alarmed the pontiff； that he resolved to seize the person of
the cardinal； a duty he committed to Antonio Rido； of Padua； who had
the command of the castle of St。 Angelo； and who； after receiving his
instructions； soon found an opportunity of carrying them into effect。
The patriarch； having determined to go into Tuscany； prepared to leave
Rome on the following day； and ordered the castellan to be upon the
drawbridge of the fortress in the morning； for he wished to speak with
him as he passed。 Antonio perceived this to be the favorable moment；
informed his people what they were to do； and awaited the arrival of
the patriarch upon the bridge； which adjoined the building； and might
for the purpose of security be raised or lowered as occasion required。
The appointed time found him punctual； and Antonio； having drawn him；
as if for the convenience of conversation； on to the bridge； gave a
signal to his men； who immediately raised it； and in a moment the
cardinal； from being a commander of armies； found himself a prisoner
of the castellan。 The patriarch's followers at first began to use
threats； but being informed of the pope's directions they were
appeased。 The castellan comforting him with kind words； he replied；
that 〃the great do not make each other prisoners to let them go again；
and that those whom it is proper to take； it is not well to set free。〃
He shortly afterward died in prison。 The pope appointed Lodovico；
patriarch of Aquileia； to command his troops； and； though previously
unwilling to interfere in the wars of the league and the duke； he was
now content to take part in them； and engaged to furnish four thousand
horse and two thousand foot for the defense of Tuscany。
The Florentines； freed from this cause for anxiety； were still
apprehensive of Niccolo； and feared confusion in the affairs of
Lombardy； from the differences of opinion that existed between the
count and the Venetians。 In order the better to become acquainted with
the intentions of the parties； they sent Neri di Gini Capponi and
Giuliano Davanzati to Venice； with instructions to assist in the
arrangement of the approaching campaign； and ordered that Neri； having
discovered how the Venetians were disposed； should proceed to the
count； learn his designs； and induce him to adopt the course that
would be most advantageous to the League。 The ambassadors had only
reached Ferrara； when they were told that Niccolo Piccinino had
crossed the Po with six thousand horse。 This made them travel with
increased speed； and； having arrived at Venice； they found the Signory
fully resolved that Brescia should be relieved without waiting for the
return of spring； for they said that 〃the city would be unable to hold
out so long； the fleet could not be in readiness； and that seeing no
more immediate relief； she would submit to the enemy； which would
render the duke universally victorious； and cause them to lose the
whole of their inland possessions。〃 Neri then proceeded to Verona to
ascertain the count's opinion； who argued； for many reasons； that to
march to Brescia before the return of spring would be quite useless；
or even worse； for the situation of Brescia； being considered in
conjunction with the season； nothing could be expected to result but
disorder and fruitless toil to the troops； so that； when the suitable
period should arrive； he would be compelled to return to Verona with
his army； to recover from the injuries sustained in the winter； and
provide necessaries for the summer； and thus the time available for
the war would be wasted in marching and countermarching。 Orsatto
Justiniani and Giovanni Pisani were deputed on the part of Venice to
the count at Verona； having been sent to consider these affairs； and
with them it was agreed that the Venetians should pay the count ninety
thousand ducats for the coming year； and to each of the soldiers forty
ducats； that he should set out immediately with the whole army and
attack the duke； in order to compel him； for his own preservation； to
recall Niccolo into Lombardy。 After this agreement the ambassadors
returned to Venice； and the Venetians； having so large an amount of
money to raise； were very remiss with their commissariat。
In the meantime； Niccolo Piccinino pursued his route； and arrived in
Romagna； where he prevailed upon the sons of Pandolfo Malatesti to
desert the Venetians and enter the duke's service。 This circumstance
occasioned much uneasiness in Venice； and still more at Florence； for
they thought that with the aid of the Malatesti they might resist
Niccolo； but finding them gone over to the enemy； they were in fear
lest their captain； Piero Giampagolo Orsini； who was in the
territories of the Malatesti； should be disarmed and rendered
powerless。 The count also felt alarmed； for； through Niccolo's
presence in Tuscany； he was afraid of losing La Marca； and； urged by a
desire to look after his own affairs； he hastened to Venice； and being
introduced to the Doge； informed him that the interests of the League
required his presence in Tuscany； for the war ought to be carried on
where the leader and forces of the enemy were； and not where his
garrisons and towns were situated； for when the army is vanquished the
war is finished； but to take towns and leave the armament entire；
usually allowed the war to break out again with greater virulence；
that Tuscany and La Marca would be lost if Niccolo were not vigorously
resisted； and that； if lost； there would be no possibility of the
preservation of Lombardy。 But supposing the danger to Lombardy not so
imminent； he did not intend to abandon his own subjects and friends；
and that having come into Lombardy as a prince； he did not intend to
return a mere condottiere。 To this the Doge replied； it was quite
manifest that； if he left Lombardy； or even recrossed the Po； all
their inland territories would be lost； in that case they were
unwilling to spend any more money in their defense。 For it would be
folly to attempt defending a place which must； after all； inevitably
be lost； and that it is less disgraceful and less injurious to lose
dominions only； then to lose both territory and money。 That if the
loss of their inland possessions should actually result； it would then
be seen how highly important to the preservation of Romagna and
Tuscany the reputation of the Venetians had been。 On these accounts
they were of quite a different opinion from the count； for they saw
that whoever was victor in Lombardy would be so everywhere else； that
conquest would be easily attainable now； when the territories of the
duke were left almost defenseless by the departure of Niccolo； and
that he would be ruined before he could order Niccolo's recall； or
provide himself with any other remedy； that whoever attentively
considered these things would see； that the duke had sent Niccolo into
Tuscany for no other reason than to withdraw the count from his