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the duke possessed at the time of his death。
When this treaty became known at Milan； it grieved the citizens more
than the victory at Caravaggio had exhilarated them。 The rulers of the
city mourned； the people complained； women and children wept； and all
exclaimed against the count as false and perfidious。 Although they
could not hope that either prayers or promises would divert him from
his ungrateful design； they sent ambassadors to see with what kind of
color he would invest his unprincipled proceedings； and being admitted
to his presence； one of them spoke to the following effect；〃It is
customary with those who wish to obtain a favor； to make use either of
prayers； presents； or threats； that pity； convenience； or fear； may
induce a compliance with their requests。 But as with cruel；
avaricious； or； in their own conceit； powerful men； these arguments
have no weight； it is vain to hope； either to soften them by prayers；
win them by presents； or alarm them by menaces。 We； therefore； being
now； though late； aware of thy pride； cruelty； and ambition； come
hither； not to ask aught； nor with the hope； even if we were so
disposed； of obtaining it； but to remind thee of the benefits thou
hast received from the people of Milan； and to prove with what
heartless ingratitude thou hast repaid them； that at least； under the
many evils oppressing us； we may derive some gratification from
telling thee how and by whom they have been produced。 Thou canst not
have forgotten thy wretched condition at the death of the duke
Filippo； the king and the pope were both thine enemies； thou hadst
abandoned the Florentines and the Venetians； who； on account of their
just indignation； and because they stood in no further need of thee；
were almost become thy declared enemies。 Thou wert exhausted by thy
wars against the church； with few followers； no friends； or any money；
hopeless of being able to preserve either thy territories or thy
reputation。 From these circumstances thy ruin must have ensued； but
for our simplicity； we received thee to our home； actuated by
reverence for the happy memory of our duke； with whom； being connected
by marriage and renewed alliance； we believed thy affection would
descend to those who had inherited his authority； and that； if to the
benefits he had conferred on thee； our own were added； the friendship
we sought to establish would not only be firm； but inseparable； with
this impression； we added Verona or Brescia to thy previous
appointments。 What more could we either give or promise thee？ What
else couldst thou； not from us merely； but from any others； have
either had or expected？ Thou receivedst from us an unhoped…for
benefit； and we； in return； an unmerited wrong。 Neither hast thou
deferred until now the manifestation of thy base designs； for no
sooner wert thou appointed to command our armies； than； contrary to
every dictate of propriety； thou didst accept Pavia； which plainly
showed what was to be the result of thy friendship； but we bore with
the injury； in hope that the greatness of the advantage would satisfy
thy ambition。 Alas！ those who grasp at all cannot be satisfied with a
part。 Thou didst promise that we should possess the conquests which
thou might afterward make； for thou wert well aware that what was
given at many times might be withdrawn at once； as was the case after
the victory at Caravaggio； purchased by our money and blood； and
followed by our ruin。 Oh！ unhappy states； which have to guard against
their oppressor； but much more wretched those who have to trust to
mercenary and faithless arms like thine！ May our example instruct
posterity； since that of Thebes and Philip of Macedon； who； after
victory over her enemies； from being her captain became her foe and
her prince； could not avail us。
〃The only fault of which we are conscious is our over…weening
confidence in one whom we ought not to have trusted； for thy past
life； thy restless mind； incapable of repose； ought to have put us on
our guard； neither ought we to have confided in one who betrayed the
lord of Lucca； set a fine upon the Florentines and the Venetians；
defied the duke； despised the king； and besides all this； persecuted
the church of God； and the Divinity himself with innumerable
atrocities。 We ought not to have fancied that so many potentates
possessed less influence over the mind of Francesco Sforza； than the
Milanese； or that he would preserve unblemished that faith towards us
which he had on so many occasions broken with them。 Still this want of
caution in us does not excuse the perfidy in thee； nor can it
obliterate the infamy with which our just complaints will blacken thy
character throughout the world； or prevent the remorse of thy
conscience； when our arms are used for our own destruction； for thou
wilt see that the sufferings due to parricides are fully deserved by
thee。 And though ambition should blind thine eyes； the whole world；
witness to thine iniquity； will compel thee to open them； God himself
will unclose them； if perjuries； if violated faith； if treacheries
displease him； and if； as ever； he is still the enemy of the wicked。
Do not； therefore； promise thyself any certainty of victory； for the
just wrath of the Almighty will weigh heavily upon thee； and we are
resolved to lose our liberty only with our lives； but if we found we
could not ultimately defend it； we would submit ourselves to anyone
rather than to thee。 And if our sins be so great that in spite of our
utmost resolution； we should still fall into thy hands； be quite
assured； that the sovereignty which is commenced in deceit and
villainy； will terminate either in thyself or thy children with
ignominy and blood。〃
The count； though not insensible to the just reproaches of the
Milanese； did not exhibit either by words or gestures any unusual
excitement； and replied； that 〃He willingly attributed to their angry
feelings all the serious charges of their indiscreet harangue； and he
would reply to them in detail； were he in the presence of anyone who
could decide their differences； for it would be evident that he had
not injured the Milanese； but only taken care that they should not
injure him。 They well knew how they had proceeded after the victory of
Caravaggio； for； instead of rewarding him with either Verona or
Brescia； they sought peace with the Venetians； that all the blame of
the quarrel might rest on him； themselves obtaining the fruit of
victory； the credit of peace； and all the advantages that could be
derived from the war。 It would thus be manifest they had no right to
complain； when he had effected the arrangements which they first
attempted to make； and that if he had deferred to do so a little
longer； he would have had reason to accuse them of the ingratitude
with which they were now charging him。 Whether the charge were true or
false； that God； whom they had invoked to avenge their injuries； would
show at the conclusion of the war； and would demonstrate which was
most his friend； and who had most justice on their side。〃
Upon the departure of the ambassadors； the count determined to attack
the Milanese； who prepared for their defense； and appointed Francesco
and Jacopo Piccinino （attached to their cause； on account of the
ancient feud of the families of Braccio and Sforza） to conduct their
forces in support of liberty； at least till they could deprive the
count of the aid of the Venetians； who they did not think would long
be either friendly or faithful to him。 On the other hand； the count；
perfectly aware of this； thought it not imprudent； supposing the
obligation of the treaty insufficient； to bind them by the ties of
interest； and； therefore； in assigning to each their portion of the
enterprise； he consented that the Venetians should attack Crema； and
himself； with the other forces； assail the remainder of the territory。
The advantage of this arrangement kept the Venetians so long in
alliance with the count； that he was enabled to conquer the whole of
the Milanese territory； and to press the city so closely； that the
inhabitants could not provide themselves with necessaries； despairing
of success； they sent envoys to the Venetians to beg they would
compassionate their distress； and； as ought to be the case between
republics； assist them in defense of their liberty against a tyrant；
whom； if once master of their city； they would be unable to restrain；
neither did they think he would be content with the boundaries
assigned him by the treaty； but would expect all the dependencies of
Milan。
The Venetians had not yet taken Crema； and wishing before they changed
sides； to effect this point； they PUBLICLY answered the envoys； that
their engagements with the count prevented them from defending the
Milanese； but SECRETLY； gave them every assurance of their wish to do
so。
The count had approached so near Milan with his forces； that he was
disputing t