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Tuscany for no other reason than to withdraw the count from his
enterprise； and cause the war； which was now at his own door； to be
removed to a greater distance。 That if the count were to follow
Niccolo； unless at the instigation of some very pressing necessity； he
would find his plan successful； and rejoice in the adoption of it； but
if he were to remain in Lombardy； and allow Tuscany to shift for
herself； the duke would； when too late； see the imprudence of his
conduct； and find that he had lost his territories in Lombardy and
gained nothing in Tuscany。 Each party having spoken； it was determined
to wait a few days to see what would result from the agreement of the
Malatesti with Niccolo； whether the Florentines could avail themselves
of Piero Giampagolo； and whether the pope intended to join the League
with all the earnestness he had promised。 Not many days after these
resolutions were adopted； it was ascertained that the Malatesti had
made the agreement more from fear than any ill…will toward the League；
that Piero Giampagolo had proceeded with his force toward Tuscany； and
that the pope was more disposed than ever to assist them。 This
favorable intelligence dissipated the count's fears； and he consented
to remain in Lombardy； and that Neri Capponi should return to Florence
with a thousand of his own horse； and five hundred from the other
parties。 It was further agreed； that if the affairs of Tuscany should
require the count's presence； Neri should write to him； and he would
proceed thither to the exclusion of every other consideration。 Neri
arrived at Florence with his forces in April； and Giampagolo joined
them the same day。
In the meantime； Niccolo Piccinino； the affairs of Romagna being
settled； purposed making a descent into Tuscany； and designing to go
by the mountain passes of San Benedetto and the valley of Montone；
found them so well guarded by the contrivance of Niccolo da Pisa； that
his utmost exertions would be useless in that direction。 As the
Florentines； upon this sudden attack； were unprovided with troops and
officers； they had sent into the defiles of these hills many of their
citizens； with infantry raised upon the emergency to guard them； among
whom was Bartolomeo Orlandini； a cavaliere； to whom was intrusted the
defense of the castle of Marradi and the adjacent passes。 Niccolo
Piccinino； finding the route by San Benedetto impracticable； on
account of the bravery of its commander； thought the cowardice of the
officer who defended that of Marradi would render the passage easy。
Marradi is a castle situated at the foot of the mountains which
separate Tuscany from Romagna； and； though destitute of walls； the
river； the mountains； and the inhabitants； make it a place of great
strength； for the peasantry are warlike and faithful； and the rapid
current undermining the banks has left them of such tremendous height
that it is impossible to approach it from the valley if a small bridge
over the stream be defended； while on the mountain side the precipices
are so steep and perpendicular as to render it almost impregnable。 In
spite of these advantages； the pusillanimity of Bartolomeo Orlandini
rendered the men cowardly and the fortress untenable； for as soon as
he heard of the enemy's approach he abandoned the place； fled with all
his forces； and did not stop till he reached the town of San Lorenzo。
Niccolo； entering the deserted fortress； wondered it had not been
defended； and； rejoicing over his acquisition； descended into the
valley of the Mugello； where he took some castles； and halted with his
army at Pulicciano。 Thence he overran the country as far as the
mountains of Fiesole； and his audacity so increased that he crossed
the Arno； plundering and destroying everything to within three miles
of Florence。
The Florentines； however； were not dismayed。 Their first concern was
to give security to the government； for which they had no cause for
apprehension； so universal was the good will of the people toward
Cosmo； and besides this； they had restricted the principal offices to
a few citizens of the highest class； who with their vigilance would
have kept the populace in order； even if they had been discontented or
desirous of change。 They also knew by the compact made in Lombardy
what forces Neri would bring with him； and expected the troops of the
pope。 These prospects sustained their courage till the arrival of Neri
di Gino； who； on account of the disorders and fears of the city；
determined to set out immediately and check Niccolo。 With the cavalry
he possessed； and a body of infantry raised entirely from the people；
he recovered Remole from the hands of the enemy； where having
encamped； he put a stop to all further depredations； and gave the
inhabitants hopes of repelling the enemy from the neighborhood。
Niccolo finding that； although the Florentines were without troops； no
disturbance had arisen； and learning what entire composure prevailed
in the city； thought he was wasting time； and resolved to undertake
some other enterprise to induce them to send forces after him； and
give him a chance of coming to an engagement； by means of which； if
victorious； he trusted everything would succeed to his wishes。
Francesco； Count di Poppi； was in the army of Niccolo； having deserted
the Florentines； with whom he was in league； when the enemy entered
the Mugello； and though with the intention of securing him as soon as
they had an idea of his design； they increased his appointments； and
made him commissary over all the places in his vicinity； still； so
powerful is the attachment to party； that no benefit or fear could
eradicate the affection he bore toward Rinaldo and the late
government； so that as soon as he knew Niccolo was at hand he joined
him； and with the utmost solicitude entreated him to leave the city
and pass into the Casentino； pointing out to him the strength of the
country； and how easily he might thence harass his enemies。 Niccolo
followed his advice； and arriving in the Casentino； took Romena and
Bibbiena； and then pitched his camp before Castel San Niccolo。 This
fortress is situated at the foot of the mountains which divide the
Casentino from the Val d'Arno； and being in an elevated situation； and
well garrisoned； it was difficult to take； though Niccolo； with
catapults and other engines； assailed it without intermission。 The
siege had continued more than twenty days； during which the
Florentines had collected all their forces； having assembled under
several leaders； three thousand horse； at Fegghine； commanded by Piero
Giampagolo Orsini； their captain； and Neri Capponi and Bernardo de'
Medici； commissaries。 Four messengers； from Castel San Niccolo； were
sent to them to entreat succor。 The commissaries having examined the
site； found it could not be relieved； except from the Alpine regions；
in the direction of the Val d'Arno； the summit of which was more
easily attainable by the enemy than by themselves； on account of their
greater proximity； and because the Florentines could not approach
without observation； so that it would be making a desperate attempt；
and might occasion the destruction of the forces。 The commissaries；
therefore； commended their fidelity； and ordered that when they could
hold out no longer； they should surrender。 Niccolo took the fortress
after a siege of thirty…two days； and the loss of so much time； for
the attainment of so small an advantage； was the principle cause of
the failure of his expedition； for had he remained with his forces
near Florence； he would have almost deprived the government of all
power to compel the citizens to furnish money： nor would they so
easily have assembled forces and taken other precautions； if the enemy
had been close upon them； as they did while he was at a distance。
Besides this； many would have been disposed to quiet their
apprehensions of Niccolo； by concluding a peace； particularly； as the
contest was likely to be of some duration。 The desire of the Count di
Poppi to avenge himself on the inhabitants of San Niccolo； long his
enemies； occasioned his advice to Piccinino； who adopted it for the
purpose of pleasing him； and this caused the ruin of both。 It seldom
happens； that the gratification of private feelings； fails to be
injurious to the general convenience。
Niccolo； pursuing his good fortune； took Rassina and Chiusi。 The Count
di Poppi advised him to halt in these parts； arguing that he might
divide his people between Chiusi； Caprese； and the Pieve； render
himself master of this branch of the Apennines； and descend at
pleasure into the Casentino； the Val d'Arno； the Val di Chiane； or the
Val di Tavere； as well as be prepared for every movement of the enemy。
But Niccolo； considering the sterility of these places； told him； 〃his
horses could not eat stones；〃 and went to the Borgo San Sepolcro；
where he was amicably received； but found that the people of C