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fill their treasuries with gold and silver won from their enemies； to
distribute gratuities to the people； reduce taxation； and by games and
solemn festivals； disseminate universal joy。 But the victories
obtained in the times of which we speak； first emptied the treasury；
and then impoverished the people； without giving the victorious party
security from the enemy。 This arose entirely from the disorders
inherent in their mode of warfare； for the vanquished soldiery；
divesting themselves of their accoutrements； and being neither slain
nor detained prisoners； only deferred a renewed attack on the
conqueror； till their leader had furnished them with arms and horses。
Besides this； both ransom and booty being appropriated by the troops；
the victorious princes could not make use of them for raising fresh
forces； but were compelled to draw the necessary means from their
subjects' purses； and this was the only result of victory experienced
by the people； except that it diminished the ruler's reluctance to
such a course； and made him less particular about his mode of
oppressing them。 To such a state had the practice of war been brought
by the sort of soldiery then on foot； that the victor and the
vanquished； when desirous of their services； alike needed fresh
supplies of money； for the one had to re…equip them； and the other to
bribe them； the vanquished could not fight without being remounted；
and the conquerors would not take the field without a new gratuity。
Hence it followed； that the one derived little advantage from the
victory； and the other was the less injured by defeat； for the routed
party had to be re…equipped； and the victorious could not pursue his
advantage。
From this disorderly and perverse method of procedure； it arose； that
before Niccolo's defeat became known throughout Italy； he had again
reorganized his forces； and harassed the enemy with greater vigor than
before。 Hence； also； it happened； that after his disaster at Tenna； he
so soon occupied Verona： that being deprived of his army at Verona； he
was shortly able to appear with a large force in Tuscany； that being
completely defeated at Anghiari； before he reached Tuscany； he was
more powerful in the field than ever。 He was thus enabled to give the
duke of Milan hopes of defending Lombardy； which by his absence
appeared to be lost； for while Niccolo spread consternation throughout
Tuscany； disasters in the former province so alarmed the duke； that he
was afraid his utter ruin would ensue before Niccolo； whom he had
recalled； could come to his relief； and check the impetuous progress
of the count。 Under these impressions； the duke； to insure by policy
that success which he could not command by arms； had recourse to
remedies； which on similar occasions had frequently served his turn。
He sent Niccolo da Esti； prince of Ferrara； to the count who was then
at Peschiera； to persuade him； 〃That this war was not to his
advantage； for if the duke became so ruined as to be unable to
maintain his position among the states of Italy； the count would be
the first to suffer； for he would cease to be of importance either
with the Venetians or the Florentines； and to prove the sincerity of
his wish for peace； he offered to fulfill the engagement he had
entered into with regard to his daughter； and send her to Ferrara； so
that as soon as peace was established； the union might take place。〃
The count replied； 〃That if the duke really wished for peace； he might
easily be gratified； as the Florentines and the Venetians were equally
anxious for it。 True； it was； he could with difficulty credit him；
knowing that he had never made peace but from necessity； and when this
no longer pressed him； again desired war。 Neither could he give
credence to what he had said concerning the marriage； having been so
repeatedly deceived； yet when peace was concluded； he would take the
advice of his friends upon that subject。〃
The Venetians； who were sometimes needlessly jealous of their
soldiery； became greatly alarmed at these proceedings； and not without
reason。 The count was aware of this； and wishing to remove their
apprehensions； pursued the war with unusual vigor； but his mind had
become so unsettled by ambition； and the Venetians' by jealousy； that
little further progress was made during the remainder of the summer；
and upon the return of Niccolo into Lombardy； winter having already
commenced； the armies withdrew into quarters； the count to Verona； the
Florentine forces to Tuscany； the duke's to Cremona； and those of the
pope to Romagna。 The latter； after having been victorious at Anghiari；
made an unsuccessful attack upon Furli and Bologna； with a view to
wrest them from Niccolo Piccinino； but they were gallantly defended by
his son Francesco。 However； the arrival of the papal forces so alarmed
the people of Ravenna with the fear of becoming subject to the church；
that； by consent of Ostasio di Polenta their lord； they placed
themselves under the power of the Venetians； who； in return for the
territory； and that Ostasio might never retake by force what he had
imprudently given them； sent him and his son to Candia； where they
died。 In the course of these affairs； the pope； notwithstanding the
victory at Anghiari； became so in want of money； that he sold the
fortress of Borgo San Sepolcro to the Florentines for 25；000 ducats。
Affairs being thus situated； each party supposed winter would protect
them from the evils of war； and thought no more of peace。 This was
particularly the case with the duke； who； being rendered doubly secure
by the season and by the presence of Niccolo； broke off all attempts
to effect a reconciliation with the count； reorganized Niccolo's
forces； and made every requisite preparation for the future struggle。
The count being informed of this； went to Venice to consult with the
senate on the course to be pursued during the next year。 Niccolo； on
the other hand； being quite prepared； and seeing the enemy unprovided；
did not await the return of spring； but crossed the Adda during severe
weather； occupied the whole Brescian territory； except Oddula and
Acri； and made prisoners two thousand horse belonging to Francesco's
forces； who had no apprehension of an attack。 But the greatest source
of anxiety to the count； and alarm to the Venetians； was the desertion
of his service by Ciarpellone； one of his principal officers。
Francesco； on learning these matters； immediately left Venice； and；
arriving at Brescia； found that Niccolo； after doing all the mischief
he could； had retired to his quarters； and therefore； finding the war
concluded for the present was not disposed to rekindle it； but rather
to use the opportunity afforded by the season and his enemies； of
reorganizing his forces； so as to be able； when spring arrived； to
avenge himself for his former injuries。 To this end he induced the
Venetians to recall the forces they had in Tuscany； in the Florentine
service； and to order that to succeed Gattamelata； who was dead；
Micheletto Attendulo should take the command。
On the approach of spring； Niccolo Piccinino was the first to take the
field； and encamped before Cignano； a fortress twelve miles from
Brescia； the count marched to its relief； and the war between them was
conducted in the usual manner。 The count； apprehensive for the city of
Bergamo； besieged Martinengo； a castle so situated that the possession
of it would enable him to relieve the former； which was closely
pressed by Niccolo； who； having foreseen that the enemy could impede
him only from the direction of Martinengo； had put the castle into a
complete state of defense； so that the count was obliged to lend his
whole force to the siege。 Upon this； Niccolo placed his troops in a
situation calculated to intercept the count's provisions； and
fortified himself with trenches and bastions in such a manner that he
could not be attacked without the most manifest hazard to his
assailant。 Hence the besiegers were more distressed than the people of
Martinengo whom they besieged。 The count could not hold his position
for want of food； nor quit it without imminent danger； so that the
duke's victory appeared certain； and defeat equally inevitable to the
count and the Venetians。
But fortune； never destitute of means to assist her favorites； or to
injure others； caused the hope of victory to operate so powerfully
upon Niccolo Piccinino； and made him assume such a tone of unbounded
insolence； that； losing all respect for himself and the duke； he sent
him word that； having served under his ensign for so long； without
obtaining sufficient land to serve him for a grave； he wished to know
from himself what was to be the reward of his labors； for it was in
his power to make him master of Lombardy； and place all his enemies in
his power； and； as a certain victory ought to be attended by a sure
remuneration； he desired the duke to concede to him th