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with his friends at Rome to provide an evening banquet； to which all
the conspirators were invited； with orders that each should bring with
him his most trust…worthy friends； and himself promised to be with him
before the entertainment was served。 Everything was done according to
this orders； and Stefano Porcari arrived at the place appointed。
Supper being brought in； he entered the apartment dressed in cloth of
gold； with rich ornaments about his neck； to give him a dignified
appearance and commanding aspect。 Having embraced the company； he
delivered a long oration to dispose their minds to the glorious
undertaking。 He then arranged the measures to be adopted； ordering
that one part of them should； on the following morning； take
possession of the pontiff's palace； and that the other should call the
people of Rome to arms。 The affair came to the knowledge of the pope
the same night； some say by treachery among the conspirators； and
others that he knew of Porcari's presence at Rome。 Be this as it may；
on the night of the supper Stefano； and the greater part of his
associates； were arrested； and afterward expiated their crime by
death。 Thus ended his enterprise； and though some may applaud his
intentions； he must stand charged with deficiency of understanding；
for such undertakings； though possessing some slight appearance of
glory； are almost always attended with ruin。
Gherardo Gambacorti was lord of Val di Bagno； and his ancestors as
well as himself had always been in the pay or under the protection of
the Florentines。 Alfonso endeavored to induce him to exchange his
territory for another in the kingdom of Naples。 This became known to
the Signory； who； in order to ascertain his designs； sent an
ambassador to Gambacorti； to remind him of the obligations of his
ancestors and himself to their republic； and induce him to continue
faithful to them。 Gherardo affected the greatest astonishment； assured
the ambassador with solemn oaths that no such treacherous thought had
ever entered his mind； and that he would gladly go to Florence and
pledge himself for the truth of his assertions； but being unable； from
indisposition； he would send his son as an hostage。 These assurances；
and the proposal with which they were accompanied； induced the
Florentines to think Gherardo had been slandered； and that his accuser
must be alike weak and treacherous。 Gherardo； however； hastened his
negotiation with redoubled zeal； and having arranged the terms；
Alfonso sent Frate Puccio； a knight of Jerusalem； with a strong body
of men to the Val di Bagno； to take possession of the fortresses and
towns； the people of which； being attached to the Florentine republic；
submitted unwillingly。
Frate Puccio had already taken possession of nearly the whole
territory； except the fortress of Corzano。 Gambacorti was accompanied；
while transferring his dominions； by a young Pisan of great courage
and address； named Antonio Gualandi； who； considering the whole
affair； the strength of the place； the well known bravery of the
garrison； their evident reluctance to give it up； and the baseness of
Gambacorti； at once resolved to make an effort to prevent the
fulfillment of his design； and Gherardo being at the entrance； for the
purpose of introducing the Aragonese； he pushed him out with both his
hands； and commanded the guards to shut the gate upon such a
scoundrel； and hold the fortress for the Florentine republic。 When
this circumstance became known in Bagno and the neighboring places；
the inhabitants took up arms against the king's forces； and； raising
the Florentine standard； drove them out。 The Florentines learning
these events； imprisoned Gherardo's son； and sent troops to Bagno for
the defense of the territory； which having hitherto been governed by
its own prince； now became a vicariate。 The traitor Gherardo escaped
with difficulty； leaving his wife； family； and all his property； in
the hands of those whom he had endeavored to betray。 This affair was
considered by the Florentines of great importance； for had the king
succeeded in securing the territory； he might have overrun the Val di
Tavere and the Casentino at his pleasure； and would have caused so
much annoyance； that they could no longer have allowed their whole
force to act against the army of the Aragonese at Sienna。
In addition to the preparations made by the Florentines in Italy to
resist the hostile League； they sent as ambassador； Agnolo Acciajuoli；
to request that the king of France would allow Ren？of Anjou to enter
Italy in favor of the duke and themselves； and also； that by his
presence in the country； he might defend his friends and attempt the
recovery of the kingdom of Naples； for which purpose they offered him
assistance in men and money。 While the war was proceeding in Lombardy
and Tuscany； the ambassador effected an arrangement with King Ren？
who promised to come into Italy during the month of June； the League
engaging to pay him thirty thousand florins upon his arrival at
Alexandria； and ten thousand per month during the continuance of the
war。 In pursuance of this treaty； King Ren？commenced his march into
Italy； but was stopped by the duke of Savoy and the marquis of
Montferrat； who； being in alliance with the Venetians； would not allow
him to pass。 The Florentine ambassador advised； that in order to
uphold the influence of his friends； he should return to Provence； and
conduct part of his forces into Italy by sea； and； in the meantime；
endeavor； by the authority of the king of France； to obtain a passage
for the remainder through the territories of the duke。 This plan was
completely successful； for Ren？came into Italy by sea； and his
forces； by the mediation of the king of France； were allowed a passage
through Savoy。 King Ren？was most honorably received by Duke
Francesco； and joining his French with the Italian forces； they
attacked the Venetians with so much impetuosity； that they shortly
recovered all the places which had been taken in the Cremonese。 Not
content with this； they occupied nearly the whole Brescian territory；
so that the Venetians； unable to keep the field； withdrew close to the
walls of Brescia。
Winter coming on； the duke deemed it advisable to retire into
quarters； and appointed Piacenza for the forces of Ren？ where； having
passed the whole of the cold season of 1453； without attempting
anything； the duke thought of taking the field； on the approach of
spring； and stripping the Venetians of the remainder of their
possessions by land； but was informed by the king that he was obliged
of necessity to return to France。 This determination was quite new and
unexpected to the duke； and caused him the utmost concern； but though
he immediately went to dissuade Ren？from carrying it into effect； he
was unable either by promises or entreaties to divert him from his
purpose。 He engaged； however； to leave part of his forces； and send
his son for the service of the League。 The Florentines were not
displeased at this； for having recovered their territories and
castles； they were no longer in fear of Alfonso； and on the other
hand； they did not wish the duke to obtain any part of Lombardy but
what belonged to him。 Ren？took his departure； and send his son John
into Italy； according to his promise； who did not remain in Lombardy；
but came direct to Florence； where he was received with the highest
respect。
The king's departure made the duke desirous of peace。 The Venetians；
Alfonso； and the Florentines； being all weary of the war； were
similarly disposed； and the pope continued to wish it as much as ever；
for during this year the Turkish emperor； Mohammed； had taken
Constantinople and subdued the whole of Greece。 This conquest alarmed
the Christians； more especially the Venetians and the pope； who
already began to fancy the Mohammedans at their doors。 The pope
therefore begged the Italian potentates to send ambassadors to
himself； with authority to negotiate a general peace； with which all
complied； but when the particular circumstances of each case came to
be considered； many difficulties were found in the war of effecting
it。 King Alfonso required the Florentines to reimburse the expenses he
had incurred in the war； and the Florentines demanded some
compensation from him。 The Venetians thought themselves entitled to
Cremona from the duke； while he insisted upon the restoration of
Bergamo； Brescia； and Crema； so that it seemed impossible to reconcile
such conflicting claims。 But what could not be effected by a number at
Rome was easily managed at Milan and Venice by two； for while the
matter was under discussion at Rome； the duke and the Venetians came
to an arrangement on the ninth of April； 1454； by virtue of which；
each party resumed what they possessed before the war； the duke being
allowed to recover from the princes of Montferrat and Savoy the places
they had taken。 To the other Itali