按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
remuneration； he desired the duke to concede to him the city of
Piacenza； that when weary with his lengthened services he might at
last betake himself to repose。 Nor did he hesitate； in conclusion； to
threaten； if his request were not granted； to abandon the enterprise。
This injurious and most insolent mode of proceeding highly offended
the duke； and； on further consideration； he determined rather to let
the expedition altogether fail； than consent to his general's demand。
Thus； what all the dangers he had incurred； and the threats of his
enemies； could not draw from him； the insolent behavior of his friends
made him willing to propose。 He resolved to come to terms with the
count； and sent Antonio Guido Buono； of Tortona； to offer his daughter
and conditions of peace； which were accepted with great pleasure by
the count； and also by the colleagues as far as themselves were
concerned。 The terms being secretly arranged； the duke sent to command
Niccolo to make a truce with the count for one year； intimating； that
being exhausted with the expense； he could not forego a certain peace
for a doubtful victory。 Niccolo was utterly astonished at this
resolution； and could not imagine what had induced the duke to lose
such a glorious opportunity； nor could he surmise that； to avoid
rewarding his friends； he would save his enemies； and therefore to the
utmost of his power he opposed this resolution； and the duke was
obliged； in order to induce his compliance； to threaten that if he did
not obey he would give him up to his soldiers and his enemies。 Niccolo
submitted； with the feelings of one compelled to leave country and
friends； complaining of his hard fate； that fortune and the duke were
robbing him of the victory over his enemies。 The truce being arranged；
the marriage of the duke's daughter； Bianca； to the count was
solemnized； the duke giving Cremona for her portion。 This being over；
peace was concluded in November； 1441； at which Francesco Barbadico
and Pagolo Trono were present for the Venetians； and for the
Florentines Agnolo Acciajuoli。 Peschiera； Asola； and Lonato； castles
in the Mantuan territory； were assigned to the Venetians。
The war in Lombardy was concluded； but the dissensions in the kingdom
of Naples continued； and the inability to compose them occasioned the
resumption of those arms which had been so recently laid aside。
Alfonso； of Aragon； had； during these wars； taken from Ren？the whole
kingdom except Naples； so that； thinking he had the victory in his
power； he resolved during the siege of Naples to take Benevento； and
his other possessions in that neighborhood； from the count； and
thought he might easily accomplish this while the latter was engaged
in the wars of Lombardy。 Having heard of the conclusion of peace；
Alfonso feared the count would not only come for the purpose of
recovering his territories； but also to favor Ren？ and Ren？himself
had hope of his assistance for the same reason。 The latter； therefore；
sent to the count； begging he would come to the relief of a friend；
and avenge himself of an enemy。 On the other hand； Alfonso entreated
Filippo； for the sake of the friendship which subsisted between them；
to find the count some other occupation； that； being engaged in
greater affairs； he might not have an opportunity of interfering
between them。 Filippo complied with this request； without seeming to
be aware that he violated the peace recently made； so greatly to his
disadvantage。 He therefore signified to pope Eugenius； that the
present was a favorable opportunity for recovering the territories
which the count had taken from the church； and； that he might be in a
condition to use it； offered him the services of Niccolo Piccinino；
and engaged to pay him during the war； who； since the peace of
Lombardy； had remained with his forces in Romagna。 Eugenius eagerly
took the advice； induced by his hatred of the count； and his desire to
recover his lost possessions； feeling assured that； although on a
former occasion he had been duped by Niccolo； it would be improper；
now that the duke interfered； to suspect any deceit； and； joining his
forces to those of Niccolo； he assailed La Marca。 The count；
astonished at such an unexpected attack； assembled his troops； and
went to meet the enemy。 In the meantime； King Alfonso took possession
of Naples； so that the whole kingdom； except Castelnuova； was in his
power。 Leaving a strong guard at Castelnuova Ren？set out and came to
Florence； where he was most honorably received； and having remained a
few days； finding he could not continue the war； he withdrew to
Marseilles。
In the meantime； Alfonso took Castelnuova； and the count found himself
assailed in the Marca Inferiore； both by the pope and Niccolo。 He
applied to the Venetians and the Florentines for assistance； in men
and money； assuring them that if they did not determine to restrain
the pope and king； during his life； they would soon afterward find
their very existence endangered； for both would join Filippo and
divide Italy among them。 The Florentines and Venetians hesitated for a
time； both to consider the propriety of drawing upon themselves the
enmity of the pope and the king； and because they were then engaged in
the affairs of the Bolognese。 Annibale Bentivoglio had driven
Francesco Piccinino from Bologna； and for defense against the duke；
who favored Francesco； he demanded and received assistance of the
Venetians and Florentines； so that； being occupied with these matters
they could not resolve to assist the count； but Annibale； having
routed Francesco Piccinino； and those affairs seeming to be settled；
they resolved to support him。 Designing however to make sure of the
duke； they offered to renew the league with him； to which he was not
averse； for； although he consented that war should be made against the
count； while King Ren？was in arms； yet finding him now conquered； and
deprived of the whole kingdom； he was not willing that the count
should be despoiled of his territories； and therefore； not only
consented that assistance should be given him； but wrote to Alfonso to
be good enough to retire to his kingdom； and discontinue hostilities
against the count； and although reluctantly； yet in acknowledgment of
his obligations to the duke； Alfonso determined to satisfy him； and
withdrew with his forces beyond the Tronto。
CHAPTER II
Discords of FlorenceJealousy excited against Neri di Gino
CapponiBaldaccio d'Anghiari murderedReform of government in
favor of the MediciEnterprises of Sforza and PiccininoDeath of
Niccolo PiccininoEnd of the warDisturbances in Bologna
Annibale Bentivoglio slain by Battista Canneschi； and the latter
by the peopleSanti； supposed to be the son of Ercole
Bentivoglio； is called to govern the city of BolognaDiscourse of
Cosmo de' Medici to himPerfidious designs of the duke of Milan
against SforzaGeneral war in ItalyLosses of the duke of Milan
The duke has recourse to the count； who makes peace with him
Offers of the duke and the Venetians to the countThe Venetians
furtively deprive the count of Cremona。
While the affairs of Romagna proceeded thus； the city of Florence was
not tranquil。 Among the citizens of highest reputation in the
government； was Neri di Gino Capponi； of whose influence Cosmo de'
Medici had more apprehension than any other； for to the great
authority which he possessed in the city was added his influence with
the soldiery。 Having been often leader of the Florentine forces he had
won their affection by his courage and talents； and the remembrance of
his own and his father's victories （the latter having taken Pisa； and
he himself having overcome Niccolo Piccinino at Anghiari） caused him
to be beloved by many； and feared by those who were averse to having
associates in the government。 Among the leaders of the Florentine army
was Baldaccio d'Anghiari； an excellent soldier； for in those times
there was not one in Italy who surpassed him in vigor either of body
or mind； and possessing so much influence with the infantry； whose
leader he had always been； many thought they would follow him wherever
he chose to lead them。 Baldaccio was the intimate friend of Neri； who
loved him for his talents； of which he had been a constant witness。
This excited great suspicion in the other citizens； who； thinking it
alike dangerous either to discharge or retain him in their service；
determined to destroy him； and fortune seemed to favor their design。
Bartolommeo Orlandini was Gonfalonier of Justice； the same person who
was sent to the defense of Marradi； when Niccolo Piccinino came into
Tuscany； as we have related above； and so basely abandoned the pass；
which by its nature was almost impregnable。 So flagrant an instance of
cowardice was very offensive to Baldaccio； who； on many occasions；
both by words and letters； had contributed to make the disgraceful
fact k