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war of John of Anjou； and that the duke should extirpate the adherents
of the Bracceschi； the natural enemies of his family； who； under
Jacopo Piccinino； had attained the highest reputation。 The latter was
now the first general in Italy； and possessing no territory； he
naturally excited the apprehension of all who had dominions； and
especially of the duke； who； conscious of what he had himself done；
thought he could neither enjoy his own estate in safety； nor leave
them with any degree of security to his son during Jacopo's lifetime。
The king； therefore； strenuously endeavored to come to terms with his
barons； and using his utmost ingenuity to secure them； succeeded in
his object； for they perceived their ruin to be inevitable if they
continued in war with their sovereign； though from submission and
confidence in him； they would still have reason for apprehension。
Mankind are always most eager to avoid a certain evil； and hence
inferior powers are easily deceived by princes。 The barons； conscious
of the danger of continuing the war； trusted the king's promises； and
having placed themselves in his hands； they were soon after destroyed
in various ways； and under a variety of pretexts。 This alarmed Jacopo
Piccinino； who was with his forces at Sulmona； and to deprive the king
of the opportunity of treating him similarly； he endeavored； by the
mediation of his friends； to be reconciled with the duke； who； by the
most liberal offers； induced Jacopo to visit him at Milan； accompanied
by only a hundred horse。
Jacopo had served many years with his father and brother； first under
Duke Filippo； and afterward under the Milanese republic； so that by
frequent intercourse with the citizens he had acquired many friends
and universal popularity； which present circumstances tended to
increase； for the prosperity and newly acquired power of the
Sforzeschi had occasioned envy； while Jacopo's misfortunes and long
absence had given rise to compassion and a great desire to see him。
These various feelings were displayed upon his arrival； for nearly all
the nobility went to meet him； the streets through which he passed
were filled with citizens； anxious to catch a glimpse of him； while
shouts of 〃The Bracceschi！ the Bracceschi！〃 resounded on all sides。
These honors accelerated his ruin； for the duke's apprehensions
increased his desire of destroying him； and to effect this with the
least possible suspicion； Jacopo's marriage with Drusiana； the duke's
natural daughter； was now celebrated。 The duke then arranged with
Ferrando to take him into pay； with the title of captain of his
forces； and give him 100；000 florins for his maintenance。 After this
agreement； Jacopo； accompanied by a ducal ambassador and his wife
Drusiana； proceeded to Naples； where he was honorably and joyfully
received； and for many days entertained with every kind of festivity；
but having asked permission to go to Sulmona； where his forces were；
the king invited him to a banquet in the castle； at the conclusion of
which he and his son Francesco were imprisoned； and shortly afterward
put to death。 It was thus our Italian princes； fearing those virtues
in others which they themselves did not possess； extirpated them； and
hence the country became a prey to the efforts of those by whom it was
not long afterward oppressed and ruined。
At this time； Pope Pius II。 having settled the affairs of Romagna； and
witnessing a universal peace； thought it a suitable opportunity to
lead the Christians against the Turks； and adopted measures similar to
those which his predecessors had used。 All the princes promised
assistance either in men or money； while Matthias； king of Hungary；
and Charles； duke of Burgundy； intimated their intention of joining
the enterprise in person； and were by the pope appointed leaders of
the expedition。 The pontiff was so full of expectation； that he left
Rome and proceeded to Ancona； where it had been arranged that the
whole army should be assembled； and the Venetians engaged to send
ships thither to convey the forces to Sclavonia。 Upon the arrival of
the pope in that city； there was soon such a concourse of people； that
in a few days all the provisions it contained； or that could be
procured from the neighborhood； were consumed； and famine began to
impend。 Besides this； there was no money to provide those who were in
want of it； nor arms to furnish such as were without them。 Neither
Matthias nor Charles made their appearance。 The Venetians sent a
captain with some galleys； but rather for ostentation and the sake of
keeping their word； than for the purpose of conveying troops。 During
this position of affairs； the pope； being old and infirm； died； and
the assembled troops returned to their homes。 The death of the pontiff
occurred in 1465； and Paul II。 of Venetian origin； was chosen to
succeed him； and that nearly all the principalities of Italy might
change their rulers about the same period； in the following year
Francesco Sforza； duke of Milan； also died； having occupied the
dukedom sixteen years； and Galleazzo； his son； succeeded him。
The death of this prince infused redoubled energy into the Florentine
dissensions； and caused them to produce more prompt effects than they
would otherwise have done。 Upon the demise of Cosmo； his son Piero；
being heir to the wealth and government of his father； called to his
assistance Diotisalvi Neroni； a man of great influence and the highest
reputation； in whom Cosmo reposed so much confidence that just before
his death he recommended Piero to be wholly guided by him； both with
regard to the government of the city and the management of his
fortune。 Piero acquired Diotisalvi with the opinion Cosmo entertained
of him； and said that as he wished to obey his father； though now no
more； as he always had while alive； he should consult him concerning
both his patrimony and the city。 Beginning with his private affairs；
he caused an account of all his property； liabilities； and assets； to
be placed in Diotisalvi's hands； that； with an entire acquaintance
with the state of his affairs； he might be able to afford suitable
advice； and the latter promised to use the utmost care。 Upon
examination of these accounts the affairs were found to be in great
disorder； and Diotisalvi； instigated rather by his own ambition than
by attachment to Piero or gratitude to Cosmo； thought he might without
difficulty deprive him of both the reputation and the splendor which
his father had left him as his inheritance。 In order to realize his
views； he waited upon Piero； and advised him to adopt a measure which；
while it appeared quite correct in itself； and suitable to existing
circumstances； involved a consequence destructive to his authority。 He
explained the disorder of his affairs； and the large amount of money
it would be necessary to provide； if he wished to preserve his
influence in the state and his reputation of wealth； and said there
was no other means of remedying these disorders so just and available
as to call in the sums which his father had lent to an infinite number
of persons； both foreigners and citizens； for Cosmo； to acquire
partisans in Florence and friends abroad； was extremely liberal of his
money； and the amount of loans due to him was enormous。 Piero thought
the advice good； because he was only desirous to repossess his own
property to meet the demands to which he was liable； but as soon as he
had ordered those amounts to be recalled； the citizens； as if he had
asked for something to which he had no kind of claim； took great
offense； loaded him with opprobrious expressions； and accused him of
being avaricious and ungrateful。
Diotisalvi； noticing the popular excitement against Piero； occasioned
by his own advice； obtained an interview with Luca Pitti； Agnolo
Acciajuoli； and Niccolo Soderini； and they resolved to unite their
efforts to deprive him both of the government and his influence。 Each
was actuated by a different motive； Luca Pitti wished to take the
position Cosmo had occupied； for he was now become so great； that he
disdained to submit to Piero； Diotisalvi Neroni； who knew Luca unfit
to be at the head of a government； thought that of necessity on
Piero's removal； the whole authority of the state would devolve upon
himself； Niccolo Soderini desired the city to enjoy greater liberty；
and for the laws to be equally binding upon all。 Agnolo Acciajuoli was
greatly incensed against the Medici； for the following reasons： his
son； Raffaello； had some time before married Alessandra de' Bardi； and
received with her a large dowry。 She； either by her own fault or the
misconduct of others； suffered much ill…treatment both from her
father…in…law and her husband； and in consequence Lorenzo d' Ilarione；
her kinsman； out of pity for the girl； being accompanied by several
armed men； took her away from Agnolo's house。 The Acciajuoli
complained of the injury done