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means； but； having fallen from his horse； was trampled to death。
Combatants then engaged with little danger； being nearly all mounted；
covered with armor； and preserved from death whenever they chose to
surrender； there was no necessity for risking their lives； while
fighting； their armor defended them； and when they could resist no
longer； they yielded and were safe。
This battle； from the circumstances which attended and followed it；
presents a striking example of the wretched state of military
discipline in those times。 The enemy's forces being defeated and
driven into the Borgo； the commissaries desired to pursue them； in
order to make the victory complete； but not a single condottiere or
soldier would obey； alleging； as a sufficient reason for their
refusal； that they must take care of the booty and attend to their
wounded； and； what is still more surprising； the next day； without
permission from the commissaries； or the least regard for their
commanders； they went to Arezzo； and； having secured their plunder；
returned to Anghiari； a thing so contrary to military order and all
subordination； that the merest shadow of a regular army would easily
and most justly have wrested from them the victory they had so
undeservedly obtained。 Added to this； the men…at…arms； or heavy…armed
horse； who had been taken prisoners； whom the commissaries wished to
be detained that they might not rejoin the enemy； were set at liberty；
contrary to their orders。 It is astonishing； that an army so
constructed should have sufficient energy to obtain the victory； or
that any should be found so imbecile as to allow such a disorderly
rabble to vanquish them。 The time occupied by the Florentine forces in
going and returning from Arezzo； gave Niccolo opportunity of escaping
from the Borgo； and proceeding toward Romagna。 Along with him also
fled the Florentine exiles； who； finding no hope of their return home；
took up their abodes in various parts of Italy； each according to his
own convenience。 Rinaldo made choice of Ancona； and； to gain admission
to the celestial country； having lost the terrestrial； he performed a
pilgrimage to the holy sepulcher； whence having returned； he died
suddenly while at table at the celebration of the marriage of one of
his daughters； an instance of fortune's favor； in removing him from
the troubles of this world upon the least sorrowful day of his exile。
Rinaldo d'Albizzi appeared respectable under every change of
condition； and would have been more so had he lived in a united city；
for many qualities were injurious to him in a factious community；
which in an harmonious one would have done him honor。
When the forces returned from Arezzo； Niccolo being then gone； the
commissaries presented themselves at the Borgo； the people of which
were willing to submit to the Florentines； but their offer was
declined； and while negotiations were pending； the pope's legate
imagined the commissaries designed to take it from the church。 Hard
words were exchanged and hostilities might have ensued between the
Florentine and ecclesiastical forces； if the misunderstanding had
continued much longer； but as it was brought to the conclusion desired
by the legate； peace was restored。
While the affair of the Borgo San Sepolcro was in progress； Niccolo
Piccinino was supposed to have marched toward Rome； other accounts
said La Marca； and hence the legate and the count's forces moved
toward Perugia to relieve La Marca or Rome； as the case might be； and
Bernardo de Medici accompanied them。 Neri led the Florentine forces to
recover the Casentino； and pitched his camp before Rassina； which he
took； together with Bibbiena； Prato Vecchio； and Romena。 From thence
he proceeded to Poppi and invested it on two sides with his forces； in
one direction toward the plain of Certomondo； in the other upon the
hill extending to Fronzole。 The count finding himself abandoned to his
fate； had shut himself up in Poppi； not with any hope of assistance；
but with a view to make the best terms he could。 Neri pressing him； he
offered to capitulate； and obtained reasonable conditions； namely；
security for himself and family； with leave to take whatever he could
carry away； on condition of ceding his territories and government to
the Florentines。 When he perceived the full extent of his misfortune；
standing upon the bridge which crosses the Arno； close to Poppi； he
turned to Neri in great distress； and said； 〃Had I well considered my
own position and the power of the Florentines； I should now have been
a friend of the republic and congratulating you on your victory； not
an enemy compelled to supplicate some alleviation of my woe。 The
recent events which to you bring glory and joy； to me are full of
wretchedness and sorrow。 Once I possessed horses； arms； subjects；
grandeur and wealth： can it be surprising that I part with them
reluctantly？ But as you possess both the power and the inclination to
command the whole of Tuscany； we must of necessity obey you； and had I
not committed this error； my misfortune would not have occurred； and
your liberality could not have been exercised； so； that if you were to
rescue me from entire ruin； you would give the world a lasting proof
of your clemency。 Therefore； let your pity pass by my fault； and allow
me to retain this single house to leave to the descendants of those
from whom your fathers have received innumerable benefits。〃 To this
Neri replied： 〃That his having expected great results from men who
were capable of doing only very little； had led him to commit so great
a fault against the republic of Florence； that； every circumstance
considered； he must surrender all those places to the Florentines； as
an enemy； which he was unwilling to hold as a friend： that he had set
such an example； as it would be most highly impolitic to encourage；
for； upon a change of fortune； it might injure the republic； and it
was not himself they feared； but his power while lord of the
Casentino。 If； however； he could live as a prince in Germany； the
citizens would be very much gratified； and out of love to those
ancestors of whom he had spoken； they would be glad to assist him。〃 To
this； the count； in great anger； replied： 〃He wished the Florentines
at a much greater distance。〃 Attempting no longer to preserve the
least urbanity of demeanor； he ceded the place and all its
dependencies to the Florentines； and with his treasure； wife； and
children； took his departure； mourning the loss of a territory which
his forefathers had held during four hundred years。 When all these
victories were known at Florence； the government and people were
transported with joy。 Benedetto de' Medici； finding the report of
Niccolo having proceeded either to Rome or to La Marca； incorrect；
returned with his forces to Neri； and they proceeded together to
Florence； where the highest honors were decreed to them which it was
customary with the city to bestow upon her victorious citizens； and
they were received by the Signory； the Capitani di Parte； and the
whole city； in triumphal pomp。
BOOK VI
CHAPTER I
Reflections on the object of war and the use of victoryNiccolo
reinforces his armyThe duke of Milan endeavors to recover the
services of Count Francesco SforzaSuspicions of the Venetians
They acquire RavennaThe Florentines purchase the Borgo San
Sepolcro of the popePiccinino makes an excursion during the
winterThe count besieged in his camp before MartinengoThe
insolence of Niccolo PiccininoThe duke in revenge makes peace
with the leagueSforza assisted by the Florentines。
Those who make war have always and very naturally designed to enrich
themselves and impoverish the enemy； neither is victory sought or
conquest desirable； except to strengthen themselves and weaken the
enemy。 Hence it follows； that those who are impoverished by victory or
debilitated by conquest； must either have gone beyond； or fallen short
of； the end for which wars are made。 A republic or a prince is
enriched by the victories he obtains； when the enemy is crushed and
possession is retained of the plunder and ransom。 Victory is injurious
when the foe escapes； or when the soldiers appropriate the booty and
ransom。 In such a case； losses are unfortunate； and conquests still
more so； for the vanquished suffers the injuries inflicted by the
enemy； and the victor those occasioned by his friends； which being
less justifiable； must cause the greater pain； particularly from a
consideration of his being thus compelled to oppress his people by an
increased burden of taxation。 A ruler possessing any degree of
humanity； cannot rejoice in a victory that afflicts his subjects。 The
victories of the ancient and well organized republics； enabled them to
fill their treasuries with gold and silver won from their enemies； to
distribute gratuities to the people； reduce taxation； and by games and