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accepted； and that it would be best for Santi and those who had been
sent from Bologna； to confer in the presence of Cosmo。 They were
accordingly introduced； and Santi was not merely honored but adored by
them； so greatly were they influenced by the spirit of party。 However；
nothing was done at the time； except that Cosmo； taking Santi apart；
spoke to him thus： 〃No one can better advise you in this matter than
yourself； for you have to take that course to which your own mind
prompts you。 If you be the son of Ercole Bentivoglio； you will
naturally aspire to those pursuits which are proper to your family and
worthy of your father； but if you be the son of Agnolo da Cascese； you
will remain in Florence； and basely spend the remainder of your days
in some branch of the woolen trade。〃 These words greatly influenced
the youth； who； though he had at first almost refused to adopt such a
course； said； he would submit himself wholly to what Cosmo and Neri
should determine。 They； assenting to the request of the Bolognese；
provided suitable apparel； horses； and servants； and in a few days he
was escorted by a numerous cavalcade to Bologna； where the
guardianship of Annibale's son and of the city were placed in his
hands。 He conducted himself so prudently； that although all his
ancestors had been slain by their enemies； he lived in peace and died
respected by everyone。
After the death of Niccolo Piccinino and the peace of La Marca；
Filippo wishing to procure a leader of his forces； secretly negotiated
with Ciarpellone； one of the principal captains of Count Francesco；
and arrangements having been made； Ciarpellone asked permission to go
to Milan to take possession of certain castles which had been given
him by Filippo during the late wars。 The count suspecting what was in
progress； in order to prevent the duke from accommodating himself at
his expense； caused Ciarpellone to be arrested； and soon afterward put
to death； alleging that he had been detected plotting against him。
Filippo was highly annoyed and indignant； which the Venetians and the
Florentines were glad to observe； for their greatest fear was； that
the duke and the count should become friends。
The duke's anger caused the renewal of war in La Marca。 Gismondo
Malatesti； lord of Rimino； being son…in…law of the count； expected to
obtain Pesaro； but the count； having obtained possession； gave it to
his brother； Alessandro。 Gismondo； offended at this； was still further
exasperated at finding that Federigo di Montefeltro； his enemy； by the
count's assistance； gained possession of Urbino。 He therefore joined
the duke； and solicited the pope and the king to make war against the
count； who； to give Gismondo a taste of the war he so much desired；
resolved to take the initiative； and attacked him immediately。 Thus
Romagna and La Marca were again in complete confusion； for Filippo；
the king； and the pope； sent powerful assistance to Gismondo； while
the Florentines and Venetians supplied the count with money； though
not with men。 Nor was Filippo satisfied with the war in Romagna； but
also desired to take Cremona and Pontremoli from the count； but
Pontremoli was defended by the Florentines； and Cremona by the
Venetians。 Thus the war was renewed in Lombardy； and after several
engagements in the Cremonese； Francesco Piccinino； the leader of the
duke's forces； was routed at Casale； by Micheletto and the Venetian
troops。 This victory gave the Venetians hope of obtaining the duke's
dominions。 They sent a commissary to Cremona； attacked the
Ghiaradadda； and took the whole of it； except Crema。 Then crossing the
Adda； they overran the country as far as Milan。 Upon this the duke had
recourse to Alfonso； and entreated his assistance； pointing out the
danger his kingdom would incur if Lombardy were to fall into the hands
of the Venetians。 Alfonso promised to send him troops； but apprised
him of the difficulties which would attend their passage； without the
permission of the count。
Filippo； driven to extremity； then had recourse to Francesco； and
begged he would not abandon his father…in…law； now that he had become
old and blind。 The count was offended with the duke for making war
against him； but he was jealous of the increasing greatness of the
Venetians； and he himself began to be in want of money； for the League
supplied him sparingly。 The Florentines； being no longer in fear of
the duke； ceased to stand in need of the count； and the Venetians
desired his ruin； for they thought Lombardy could not be taken from
him except by this means； yet while Filippo sought to gain him over；
and offered him the entire command of his forces； on condition that he
should restore La Marca to the pope and quit the Venetian alliance；
ambassadors were sent to him by that republic； promising him Milan； if
they took it； and the perpetual command of their forces； if he would
push the war in La Marca； and prevent Alfonso from sending troops into
Lombardy。 The offers of the Venetians were great； as also were their
claims upon him； having begun the war in order to save him from losing
Cremona； while the injuries received from the duke were fresh in his
memory； and his promises had lost all influence； still the count
hesitated； for on the one hand； were to be considered his obligations
to the League； his pledged faith； their recent services； and his hopes
of the future； all which had their influence on him； on the other；
were the entreaties of his father…in…law； and above all； the bane
which he feared would be concealed under the specious offers of the
Venetians； for he doubted not； that both with regard to Milan and
their other promises； if they were victorious； he would be at their
mercy； to which no prudent men would ever submit if he could avoid it。
These difficulties in the way of his forming a determination； were
obviated by the ambition of the Venetians； who； seeing a chance of
occupying Cremona； from secret intelligence with that city； under a
different pretext； sent troops into its neighborhood； but the affair
was discovered by those who commanded Cremona for the count； and
measures were adopted which prevented its success。 Thus without
obtaining Cremona； they lost the count's friendship； who； now being
free from all other considerations； joined the duke。
CHAPTER III
Death of Filippo Visconti； duke of MilanThe Milanese appoint
Sforza their captainMilan becomes a republicThe pope endeavors
to restore peace to ItalyThe Venetians oppose this design
Alfonso attacks the FlorentinesThe neighborhood of Piombino
becomes the principal theater of warScarcity in the Florentine
campDisorders occur in the Neapolitan and Florentine armies
Alfonso sues for peace and is compelled to retreatPavia
surrenders to the countDispleasure of the MilaneseThe count
besieges CaravaggioThe Venetians endeavor to relieve the place
They are routed by the count before Caravaggio。
Pope Eugenius being dead； was succeeded by Nicholas V。 The count had
his whole army at Cotignola； ready to pass into Lombardy； when
intelligence was brought him of the death of Filippo； which happened
on the last day of August； 1447。 This event greatly afflicted him； for
he doubted whether his troops were in readiness； on account of their
arrears of pay； he feared the Venetians； who were his armed enemies；
he having recently forsaken them and taken part with the duke； he was
in apprehension from Alfonso； his inveterate foe； he had no hope from
the pontiff or the Florentines； for the latter were allies of the
Venetians； and he had seized the territories of the former。 However；
he resolved to face his fortune and be guided by circumstances； for it
often happens； that when engaged in business valuable ideas are
suggested； which in a state of inaction would never have occurred。 He
had great hopes； that if the Milanese were disposed to defend
themselves against the ambition of the Venetians； they could make use
of no other power but his。 Therefore； he proceeded confidently into
the Bolognese territory； thence to Modena and Reggio； halted with his
forces upon the Lenza； and sent to offer his services at Milan。 On the
death of the duke； part of the Milanese were inclined to establish a
republic； others wished to choose a prince； and of these； one part
favored the count； and another Alfonso。 However； the majority being in
favor of freedom； they prevailed over the rest； and organized a
republic； to which many cities of the Duchy refused obedience； for
they； too； desired to live in the enjoyment of their liberty； and even
those who did not embrace such views； refused to submit to the
sovereignty of the Milanese。 Lodi and Piacenza surrendered themselves
to the Venetians； Pavia and Parma became free。 This confused state of
things being known to the count； he proceeded to Cremona； where his
ambassadors and those of the Milanese arranged for him to command