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for exhibiting his prudence and wisdom； and being strenuously
supported by those who envied the influence of Tommaso Soderini；
resolved to march against them； and punish the arrogance of the people
of Volterra with arms； declaring that if they were not made a striking
example； others would； without the least fear or respect； upon every
slight occasion； adopt a similar course。 The enterprise being resolved
on； the Volterrani were told that they could not demand the observance
of conditions which they themselves had broken； and therefore must
either submit to the direction of the Signory or expect war。 With this
answer they returned to their city； and prepared for its defense；
fortifying the place； and sending to all the princes of Italy to
request assistance； none of whom listened to them； except the Siennese
and the lord of Piombino； who gave them some hope of aid。 The
Florentines on the other hand； thinking success dependent principally
upon celerity； assembled ten thousand foot and two thousand horse；
who； under the command of Federigo； lord of Urbino； marched into the
country of Volterra and quickly took entire possession of it。 They
then encamped before the city； which； being in a lofty situation； and
precipitous on all sides； could only be approached by a narrow pass
near the church of St。 Alessandro。 The Volterrani had engaged for
their defense about one thousand mercenaries； who； perceiving the
great superiority of the Florentines； found the place untenable； and
were tardy in their defensive operations； but indefatigable in the
constant injuries they committed upon the people of the place。 Thus
these poor citizens were harassed by the enemy without； and by their
own soldiery within； so； despairing of their safety； they began to
think of a capitulation； and； being unable to obtain better terms；
submitted to the discretion of the Florentine commissaries； who
ordered the gates to be opened； and introduced the greater part of
their forces。 They then proceeded to the palace； and commanded the
priors to retire to their homes； and； on the way thither； one of them
was in derision stripped by the soldiers。 From this beginning （so much
more easily are men predisposed to evil than to good） originated the
pillage and destruction of the city； which for a whole day suffered
the greatest horrors； neither women nor sacred places being spared；
and the soldiery； those engaged for its defense as well as its
assailants； plundered all that came within their reach。 The news of
this victory was received with great joy at Florence； and as the
expedition had been undertaken wholly by the advice of Lorenzo； he
acquired great reputation。 Upon which one of the intimate friends of
Tommaso Soderini； reminding him of the advice he had given； asked him
what he thought of the taking of Volterra； to which he replied； 〃To me
the place seems rather lost than won； for had it been received on
equitable terms； advantage and security would have been the result；
but having to retain it by force it will in critical junctures；
occasion weakness and anxiety； and in times of peace； injury and
expense。〃
＇*＇ A lean peace is better than a fat victory。
CHAPTER VI
Origin of the animosity between Sixtus IV。 and Lorenzo de' Medici
Carlo di Braccio da Perugia attacks the SienneseCarlo retires
by desire of the FlorentinesConspiracy against Galeazzo； duke of
MilanHis vicesHe is slain by the conspiratorsTheir deaths。
The pope； anxious to retain the territories of the church in
obedience； had caused Spoleto to be sacked for having； through
internal factions； fallen into rebellion。 Citta di Castello being in
the same state of contumacy； he besieged that place； and Niccolo
Vitelli its prince； being on intimate terms with Lorenzo de' Medici；
obtained assistance from him； which； though inadequate； was quite
enough to originate that enmity between Sixtus IV。 and the Medici
afterward productive of such unhappy results。 Nor would this have been
so long in development had not the death of Frate Piero； cardinal of
St。 Sixtus； taken place； who； after having traveled over Italy and
visited Venice and Milan （under the pretense of doing honor to the
marriage of Ercole； marquis of Ferrara）； went about sounding the minds
of the princes； to learn how they were disposed toward the
Florentines。 But upon his return he died； not without suspicion of
having been poisoned by the Venetians； who found they would have
reason to fear Sixtus if he were allowed to avail himself of the
talents and exertions of Frate Piero。 Although of very low extraction；
and meanly brought up within the walls of a convent； he had no sooner
attained the distinction of the scarlet hat； than he exhibited such
inordinate pride and ambition； that the pontificate seemed too little
for him； and he gave a feast in Rome which would have seemed
extraordinary even for a king； the expense exceeding twenty thousand
florins。 Deprived of this minister； the designs of Sixtus proceeded
with less promptitude。 The Florentines； the duke； and the Venetians
having renewed their league； and allowed the pope and the king to join
them if they thought proper； the two latter also entered into a
league； reserving an opening for the others if they were desirous to
become parties to it。 Italy was thus divided in two factions； for
circumstances daily arose which occasioned ill feeling between the two
leagues； as occurred with respect to the island of Cyprus； to which
Ferrando laid claim； and the Venetians occupied。 Thus the pope and the
king became more closely united。 Federigo； prince of Urbino； was at
this time one of the first generals of Italy； and had long served the
Florentines。 In order； if possible； to deprive the hostile league of
their captain； the pope advised； and the king requested him to pay a
visit to them。 To the surprise and displeasure of the Florentines；
Federigo complied； for they thought the same fate awaited him as had
befallen Niccolo Piccinino。 However； the result was quite different；
for he returned from Naples and Rome greatly honored； and with the
appointment of general to their forces。 They also endeavored to gain
over to their interest the lords of Romagna and the Siennese； that
they might more easily injure the Florentines； who； becoming aware of
these things； used their utmost endeavors to defend themselves against
the ambition of their enemies； and having lost Federigo d'Urbino； they
engaged Roberto da Rimino in his place； renewed the league with the
Perugini and formed one with the prince of Faenza。 The pope and the
king assigned； as the reasons of their animosity against the
Florentines； that they wished to withdraw them from the Venetian
alliance； and associate them with their own league； for the pope did
not think the church could maintain her reputation； nor the Count
Girolamo retain the states of Romagna； while the Florentines and the
Venetians remained united。 The Florentines conjectured their design
was to set them at enmity with the Venetians； not so much for the sake
of gaining their friendship as to be able the more easily to injure
them。 Two years passed away in these jealousies and discontents before
any disturbance broke out； but the first which occurred； and that but
trivial； took place in Tuscany。
Braccio of Perugia； whom we have frequently mentioned as one of the
most distinguished warriors of Italy； left two sons； Oddo and Carlo；
the latter was of tender years； the former； as above related； was
slain by the people of Val di Lamona； but Carlo； when he came to
mature age； was by the Venetians； out of respect for the memory of his
father； and the hopes they entertained from himself； received among
the condottieri of their republic。 The term of his engagement having
expired； he did not design to renew it immediately； but resolved to
try if； by his own influence and his father's reputation； he could
recover possession of Perugia。 To this the Venetians willingly
consented； for they usually extended their dominion by any changes
that occurred in the neighboring states。 Carlo consequently came into
Tuscany； but found more difficulties in his attempt upon Perugia than
he had anticipated； on account of its being allied with the
Florentines； and desirous of doing something worthy of memory； he made
war upon the Siennese； alleging them to be indebted to him for
services performed by his father in the affairs of that republic； and
attacked them with such impetuosity as to threaten the total overthrow
of their dominion。 The Siennese； ever ready to suspect the
Florentines； persuaded themselves that this outrage had been committed
with their cognizance； and made heavy complaints to the pope and the
king against them。 They also sent ambassadors to Florence to complain
of the injuries they had suffered； and adroitly intimated； that if
Carlo had not been secretly supported he could not have made war upo