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cowardice was very offensive to Baldaccio； who； on many occasions；
both by words and letters； had contributed to make the disgraceful
fact known to all。 The shame and vexation of Bartolommeo were extreme；
so that of all things he wished to avenge himself； thinking； with the
death of his accuser； to efface the stain upon his character。
This feeling of Bartolommeo Orlandini was known to other citizens； so
that they easily persuaded him to put Baldaccio to death； and at one
avenge himself； and deliver his country from a man whom they must
either retain at great peril； or discharge to their greater confusion。
Bartolommeo having therefore resolved to murder him； concealed in his
own apartment at the palace several young men； all armed； and
Baldaccio； entering the piazza； whither it was his daily custom to
come； to confer with the magistrates concerning his command； the
Gonfalonier sent for him； and he； without any suspicion； obeyed。
Meeting him in the corridor； which leads to the chambers of the
Signory； they took a few turns together discoursing of his office；
when being close to the door of the apartments in which the assassins
were concealed； Bartolommeo gave them the signal； upon which they
rushed out； and finding Baldaccio alone and unarmed； they slew him；
and threw the body out of the window which looks from the palace
toward the dogano； or customhouse。 It was thence carried into the
piazza； where the head being severed； it remained the whole day
exposed to the gaze of the people。 Baldaccio was married； and had only
one child； a boy； who survived him but a short time； and his wife；
Annalena； thus deprived of both husband and offspring； rejected every
proposal for a second union。 She converted her house into a monastery；
to which she withdrew； and； being joined by many noble ladies； lived
in holy seclusion to the end of her days。 The convent she founded； and
which is named from her； preserves her story in perpetual remembrance。
This circumstance served to weaken Neri's power； and made him lose
both influence and friends。 Nor did this satisfy the citizens who held
the reins of government； for it being ten years since their
acquisition of power； and the authority of the Balia expired； many
began to exhibit more boldness； both in words and deeds； than seemed
consistent with their safety； and the leaders of the party judged；
that if they wished to preserve their influence； some means must be
adopted to increase it。 To this end； in 1444 the councils created a
new Balia； which reformed the government； gave authority to a limited
number to create the Signory； re…established the Chancery of
Reformations； depriving Filippo Peruzzi of his office of president in
it； and appointing another wholly under their influence。 They
prolonged the term of exile to those who were banished； put Giovanni
di Simone Vespucci in prison； deprived the Accoppiatori of their
enemies of the honors of government； and with them the sons of Piero
Baroncelli； the whole of the Seragli； Bartolommeo Fortini； Francesco
Castellani； and many others。 By these means they strengthened their
authority and influence； and humbled their enemies； or those whom they
suspected of being so。
Having thus recovered and confirmed their government； they then turned
their attention to external affairs。 As observed above； Niccolo
Piccinino was abandoned by King Alfonso； and the count having been
aggrandized by the assistance of the Florentines； attacked and routed
him near Fermo； where； after losing nearly the whole of his troops；
Niccolo fled to Montecchio； which he fortified in such a manner that
in a short time he had again assembled so large an army as enabled him
to make head against the count； particularly as the season was now
come for them to withdraw into quarters。 His principal endeavor during
the winter was to collect troops； and in this he was assisted both by
the pope and Alfonso； so that； upon the approach of spring； both
leaders took the field； and Niccolo； being the strongest； reduced the
count to extreme necessity； and would have conquered him if the duke
had not contrived to frustrate his designs。 Filippo sent to beg he
would come to him with all speed； for he wished to have a personal
interview； that he might communicate matters of the highest
importance。 Niccolo； anxious to hear them； abandoned a certain victory
for a very doubtful advantage； and leaving his son Francesco to
command the army； hastened to Milan。 The count being informed of the
circumstance； would not let slip the opportunity of fighting in the
absence of Niccolo； and； coming to an engagement near the castle of
Monte Loro； routed the father's forces and took the son prisoner。
Niccolo having arrived at Milan saw that the duke had duped him； and
learning the defeat of his army and the capture of his son； he died of
grief in 1445； at the age of sixty…four； having been a brave rather
than a fortunate leader。 He left two sons； Francesco and Jacopo； who；
possessing less talent than their father； were still more unfortunate；
so that the arms of the family became almost annihilated； while those
of Sforza； being favored by fortune； attained augmented glory。 The
pope； seeing Niccolo's army defeated and himself dead； having little
hope of assistance from Aragon； sought peace with the count； and； by
the intervention of the Florentines； succeeded。 Of La Marca； the pope
only retained Osimo； Fabriano； and Recanati； all the rest remained in
the count's possession。
Peace being restored to La Marca； the whole of Italy would have
obtained repose had it not been disturbed by the Bolognese。 There were
in Bologna two very powerful families； the Canneschi and the
Bentivogli。 Of the latter； Annibale was the head； of the former；
Battista； who； as a means of confirming their mutual confidence； had
contracted family alliances； but among men who have the same objects
of ambition in view； it is easy to form connections； but difficult to
establish friendship。 The Bolognese were in a league with the
Venetians and Florentines； which had been effected by the influence of
Annibale； after they had driven out Francesco Piccinino； and Battista；
knowing how earnestly the duke desired to have the city favorable to
him； proposed to assassinate Annibale； and put Bologna into his power。
This being agreed upon； on the twenty…fifth of June； 1445； he attacked
Annibale with his men； and slew him： and then； with shouts of 〃the
duke； the duke；〃 rode through the city。 The Venetian and Florentine
commissaries were in Bologna at the time； and at first kept themselves
within doors； but finding that the people； instead of favoring the
murderers； assembled in the piazza； armed in great numbers； mourning
the death of Annibale； they joined them； and； assembling what forces
they could； attacked the Canneschi； soon overpowered them； slew part；
and drove the remainder out of the city。 Battista； unable to effect
his escape； or his enemies his capture； took refuge in a vault of his
house； used for storing grain。 The friends of the Bentivogli； having
sought him all day； and knowing he had not left the city； so terrified
his servants； that one of them； a groom； disclosed the place of his
concealment； and being drawn forth in complete armor he was slain； his
body dragged about the streets； and afterward burned。 Thus the duke's
authority was sufficient to prompt the enterprise； but his force was
not at hand to support it。
The tumults being settled by the death of Battista； and the flight of
the Canneschi； Bologna still remained in the greatest confusion。 There
not being one of the house of Bentivogli of age to govern； Annibale
having left but one son whose name was Giovanni； only six years old；
it was apprehended that disunion would ensue among the Bentivogli； and
cause the return of the Cannecshi； and the ruin both of their own
country and party。 While in this state of apprehension； Francesco；
sometime Count di Poppi； being at Bologna； informed the rulers of the
city； that if they wished to be governed by one of the blood of
Annibale； he could tell them of one； and related that about twenty
years ago； Ercole； cousin of Annibale； being at Poppi； became
acquainted with a girl of the castle； of whom was born a son named
Santi； whom Ercole； on many occasions acknowledged to be his own； nor
could he deny it； for whoever knew him and saw the boy； could not fail
to observe the strongest resemblance。 The citizens gave credit to the
tale； and immediately sent to Florence to see the young man； and
procure of Cosmo and Neri permission to return with him to Bologna。
The reputed father of Santi was dead； and he lived under the
protection of his uncle； whose name was Antonio da Cascese。 Antonio
was rich； childless； and a friend of Neri； to whom the matter becoming
known； he thought it ought neither to be despised nor too hastily
accepted； and that it would be best for Santi and th