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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 the suburbs with the inhabitants； when the Venetians having
taken Crema； thought they need no longer hesitate to declare in favor
of the Milanese； with whom they made peace and entered into alliance；
among the terms of which was the defense of their liberty unimpaired。
Having come to this agreement； they ordered their forces to withdraw
from the count's camp and to return to the Venetian territory。 They
informed him of the peace made with the Milanese； and gave him twenty
days to consider what course he would adopt。 He was not surprised at
the step taken by the Venetians； for he had long foreseen it； and
expected its occurrence daily； but when it actually took place； he
could not avoid feeling regret and displeasure similar to what the
Milanese had experienced when he abandoned them。 He took two days to
consider the reply he would make to the ambassadors whom the Venetians
had sent to inform him of the treaty； and during this time he
determined to dupe the Venetians； and not abandon his enterprise；
therefore； appearing openly to accept the proposal for peace； he sent
his ambassadors to Venice with full credentials to effect the
ratification； but gave them secret orders not to do so； and with
pretexts or caviling to put it off。 To give the Venetians greater
assurance of his sincerity； he made a truce with the Milanese for a
month； withdrew from Milan and divided his forces among the places he
had taken。 This course was the occasion of his victory and the ruin of
the Milanese； for the Venetians； confident of peace； were slow in
preparing for war； and the Milanese finding the truce concluded； the
enemy withdrawn； and the Venetians their friends； felt assured that
the count had determined to abandon his design。 This idea injured them
in two ways： one； by neglecting to provide for their defense； the
next； that； being seed…time； they sowed a large quantity of grain in
the country which the enemy had evacuated； and thus brought famine
upon themselves。 On the other hand； all that was injurious to his
enemies favored the count； and the time gave him opportunity to take
breath and provide himself with assistance。
The Florentines during the war of Lombardy had not declared in favor
of either party； or assisted the count either in defense of the
Milanese or since； for he never having been in need had not pressingly
requested it； and they only sent assistance to the Venetians after the
rout at Caravaggio； in pursuance of the treaty。 Count Francesco；
standing now alone； and not knowing to whom else he could apply； was
compelled to request immediate aid of the Florentines； publicly from
the state； and privately from friends； particularly from Cosmo de'
Medici； with whom he had always maintained a steady friendship； and by
whom he had constantly been faithfully advised and liberally
supported。 Nor did Cosmo abandon him in his extreme necessity； but
supplied him generously from his own resources； and encouraged him to
prosecute his design。 He also wished the city publicly to assist him；
but there were difficulties in the way。 Neri di Gino Capponi； one of
the most powerful citizens of Florence； thought it not to the
advantage of the city； that the count should obtain Milan； and was of
opinion that it would be more to the safety of Italy for him to ratify
the peace than pursue the war。 In the first place； he apprehended that
the Milanese； through their anger against the count； would surrender
themselves entirely to the Venetians； which would occasion the ruin of
all。 Supposing he should occupy Milan； it appeared to him that so
great military superiority； combined with such an extent of territory；
would be dangerous to themselves； and that if as count he was
intolerable； he would become doubly so as duke。 He therefore
considered it better for the republic of Florence and for Italy； that
the count should be content with his military reputation； and that
Lombardy should be divided into two republics； which could never be
united to injure others； and separately are unable to do so。 To attain
this he saw no better means than to refrain from aiding the count； and
continuing in the former league with the Venetians。 These reasonings
were not satisfactory to Cosmo's friends； for they imagined that Neri
had argued thus； not from a conviction of its advantage to the
republic； but to prevent the count； as a friend of Cosmo； from
becoming duke； apprehending that Cosmo would； in consequence of this；
become too powerful。
Cosmo； in reply； pointed out； that to lend assistance to the count
would be highly beneficial both to Italy and the republic； for it was
unwise to imagine the Milanese could preserve their own liberty； for
the nature of their community； their mode of life； and their
hereditary feuds were opposed to every kind of civil government； so
that it was necessary； either that the count should become duke of
Milan； or the Venetians her lords。 And surely under such
circumstances； no one could doubt which would be most to their
advantage； to have for their neighbor a powerful friend or a far more
powerful foe。 Neither need it be apprehended that the Milanese； while
at war with the count； would submit to the Venetians； for the count
had a stronger party in the city； and the Venetians had not； so that
whenever they were unable to defend themselves as freemen； they would
be more inclined to obey the count than the Venetians。
These diverse views kept the city long in suspense； but at length it
was resolved to send ambassadors to the count to settle the terms of
agreement； with instructions； that if they found him in such a
condition as to give hopes of his ultimate success； they were to close
with him； but； if otherwise； they were to draw out the time in
diplomacy。
CHAPTER V
Prosecution of the war between the count and the MilaneseThe
Milanese reduced to extremityThe people rise against the
magistratesMilan surrenders to the countLeague between the new
duke of Milan and the Florentines； and between the king of Naples
and the VenetiansVenetian and Neapolitan ambassadors at Florence
Answer of Cosmo de' Medici to the Venetian ambassador
Preparations of the Venetians and the king of Naples for the war
The Venetians excite disturbances in BolognaFlorence prepares
for warThe emperor； Frederick III。 at FlorenceWar in Lombardy
between the duke of Milan and the VenetiansFerrando； son of the
king of Naples； marches into Tuscany against the Florentines。
The ambassadors were at Reggio when they heard that the count had
become lord of Milan； for as soon as the truce had expired； he
approached the city with his forces； hoping quickly to get possession
of it in spite of the Venetians； who could bring no relief except from
the side of the Adda； which route he could easily obstruct； and
therefore had no apprehension （being then winter） of their arrival；
and he trusted that； before the return of spring； he would be
victorious； particularly； as by the death of Francesco Piccinino；
there remained only Jacopo his brother； to command the Milanese。 The
Venetians had sent an ambassador to Milan to confirm the citizens in
their resolution of defense； promising them powerful and immediate
aid。 During the winter a few slight skirmishes had taken place between
the count and the Venetians； but on the approach of milder weather；
the latter； under Pandolfo Malatesti； halted with their army upon the
Adda； and considering whether； in order to succor the Milanese； they
ought to risk a battle； Pardolfo； their general； aware of the count's
abilities； and the courage of his army； said it would be unadvisable
to do so； and that； under the circumstances； it was needless； for the
count； being in great want of forage； could not keep the field； and
must soon retire。 He therefore advised them to remain encamped； to
keep the Milanese in hope； and prevent them from surrendering。 This
advice was approved by the Venetians； both as being safe； and because；
by keeping the Milanese in this necessity； they might be the sooner
compelled to submit to their dominion； for they felt quite sure that
the injuries they had received would always prevent their submission
to the count。
In the meantime； the Milanese were reduced to the utmost misery； and
as the city usually abounded with poor； many died of hunger in the
streets； hence arose complaints and disturbances in several parts；
which alarmed the magistrates； and compelled them to use their utmost
exertions to prevent popular meetings。 The multitude are always slow
to resolve on commotion； but the resolution once formed； any trivial
circumstance excites it to action。 Two men in humble life； talking
together near the Porta Nuova of the calamities of the city； their own