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Constantinople to expel all Florentines from his dominions； so fierce
was the animosity with which they entered on this war； and so powerful
their lust of dominion； that without the least hesitation they sought
the destruction of those who had been the occasion of their own power。
The emperor； however； refused to listen to them。 The Venetian senate
forbade the Florentine ambassadors to enter their territories；
alleging； that being in league with the king； they could not entertain
them without his concurrence。 The Siennese received the ambassadors
with fair words； fearing their own ruin before the League could assist
them； and therefore endeavored to appease the powers whose attack they
were unable to resist。 The Venetians and the king （as was then
conjectured） were disposed to send ambassadors to Florence to justify
the war。 But the Venetian envoy was not allowed to enter the
Florentine dominions； and the king's ambassador； being unwilling to
perform his office alone； the embassy was not completed； and thus the
Venetians learned； that however little they might esteem the
Florentines； the latter had still less respect for them。
In the midst of these fears； the emperor； Frederick III。； came into
Italy to be crowned。 On the thirtieth of January； 1451； he entered
Florence with fifteen hundred horse； and was most honorably received
by the Signory。 He remained in the city till the sixth of February；
and then proceeded to Rome for his coronation； where； having been
solemnly consecrated； and his marriage celebrated with the empress；
who had come to Rome by sea； he returned to Germany； and again passed
through Florence in May； with the same honors as upon his arrival。 On
his return； having derived some benefits from the marquis of Mantua；
he conceded to him Modena and Reggio。 In the meantime； the Florentines
did not fail to prepare themselves for immediate war； and to augment
their influence； and strike the enemy with terror； they； in
conjunction with the duke； entered into alliance with the king of
France for the mutual defense of their states。 This treaty was
published with great pomp throughout all Italy。
The month of May； 1452； having arrived； the Venetians thought it not
desirable to defer any longer their attack upon the duke； and with
sixteen thousand horse and six thousand foot assailed his territories
in the direction of Lodi； while the marquis of Montferrat； instigated
either by his own ambition or the entreaties of the Venetians； did the
same on the side of Alexandria。 The duke assembled a force of eighteen
thousand cavalry and three thousand infantry； garrisoned Alexandria
and Lodi； and all the other places where the enemy might annoy them。
He then attacked the Brescian territory； and greatly harassed the
Venetians； while both parties alike plundered the country and ravaged
the smaller towns。 Having defeated the marquis of Montferrat at
Alexandria； the duke was able to unite his whole force against the
Venetians and invade their territory。
While the war in Lombardy proceeded thus； giving rise to various
trifling incidents unworthy of recital； King Alfonso and the
Florentines carried on hostilities in Tuscany； but in a similarly
inefficient manner； evincing no greater talent； and incurring no
greater danger。 Ferrando； the illegitimate son of Alfonso； entered the
country with twelve thousand troops； under the command of Federigo；
lord of Urbino。 Their first attempt was to attack Fojano； in the Val
di Chiane； for； having the Siennese in their favor； they entered the
Florentine territory in that direction。 The walls of the castle were
weak； and it was small； and consequently poorly manned； but the
garrison were； among the soldiers of that period； considered brave and
faithful。 Two hundred infantry were also sent by the Signory for its
defense。 Before this castle； thus provided； Ferrando sat down； and
either from the valor of its defenders or his own deficiencies；
thirty…six days elapsed before he took it。 This interval enabled the
city to make better provision for places of greater importance； to
collect forces and conclude more effective arrangements than had
hitherto been made。 The enemy next proceeded into the district of
Chiane； where they attacked two small towns； the property of private
citizens； but could not capture them。 They then encamped before the
Castellina； a fortress upon the borders of the Chianti； within ten
miles of Sienna； weak from its defective construction； and still more
so by its situation； but； notwithstanding these defects； the
assailants were compelled to retire in disgrace； after having lain
before it forty…four days。 So formidable were those armies； and so
perilous those wars； that places now abandoned as untenable were then
defended as impregnable。
While Ferrando was encamped in the Chianti he made many incursions；
and took considerable booty from the Florentine territories； extending
his depredations within six miles of the city； to the great alarm and
injury of the people； who at this time； having sent their forces to
the number of eight thousand soldiers under Astorre da Faenza and
Gismondo Malatesti toward Castel di Colle； kept them at a distance
from the enemy； lest they should be compelled to an engagement； for
they considered that so long as they were not beaten in a pitched
battle； they could not be vanquished in the war generally； for small
castles； when lost； were recovered at the peace； and larger places
were in no danger； because the enemy would not venture to attack them。
The king had also a fleet of about twenty vessels； comprising galleys
and smaller craft； which lay off Pisa； and during the siege of
Castellina were moored near the Rocca di Vada； which； from the
negligence of the governor； he took； and then harassed the surrounding
country。 However； this annoyance was easily removed by a few soldiers
sent by the Florentines to Campiglia； and who confined the enemy to
the coast。
CHAPTER VI
Conspiracy of Stefano Porcari against the papal governmentThe
conspirators discovered and punishedThe Florentines recover the
places they had lostGherardo Gambacorti； lord of Val di Bagno；
endeavors to transfer his territories to the king of Naples
Gallant conduct of Antonio Gualandi； who counteracts the design of
GambacortiRen？of Anjou is called into Italy by the Florentines
Ren？returns to FranceThe pope endeavors to restore peace
Peace proclaimedJacopo Piccinino attacks the Siennese。
The pontiff did not interfere in these affairs further than to
endeavor to bring the parties to a mutual accommodation； but while he
refrained from external wars he incurred the danger of more serious
troubles at home。 Stefano Porcari was a Roman citizen； equally
distinguished for nobility of birth and extent of learning； but still
more by the excellence of his character。 Like all who are in pursuit
of glory； he resolved either to perform or to attempt something worthy
of memory； and thought he could not do better than deliver his country
from the hands of the prelates； and restore the ancient form of
government； hoping； in the event of success； to be considered a new
founder or second father of the city。 The dissolute manners of the
priesthood； and the discontent of the Roman barons and people；
encouraged him to look for a happy termination of his enterprise； but
he derived his greatest confidence from those verses of Petrarch in
the canzone which begins； 〃Spirto gentil che quelle membra reggi；〃
where he says；
〃Sopra il Monte Tarpejo canzon vedra；
Un cavalier； ch' Italia tutta onora；
Pensoso piu d'altrui； che di se stesso。〃
Stefano； believing poets are sometimes endowed with a divine and
prophetic spirit； thought the event must take place which Petrarch in
this canzone seemed to foretell； and that he was destined to effect
the glorious task； considering himself in learning； eloquence；
friends； and influence； superior to any other citizen of Rome。 Having
taken these impressions； he had not sufficient prudence to avoid
discovering his design by his discourse； demeanor； and mode of living；
so that the pope becoming acquainted with it； in order to prevent the
commission of some rash act； banished him to Bologna and charged the
governor of the city to compel his appearance before him once every
day。 Stefano was not daunted by this first check； but with even
greater earnestness prosecuted his undertaking； and； by such means as
were available； more cautiously corresponded with his friends； and
often went and returned from Rome with such celerity as to be in time
to present himself before the governor within the limit allowed for
his appearance。 Having acquired a sufficient number of partisans； he
determined to make the attempt without further delay； and arranged
with his friends at Rome to provide an evening banquet； to which all
the conspirators were invited； with orde