port, and having assembled a large body of cavalry, pillaged the

  surrounding country. The king, learning this, and aware of the

  redoubtable character of his assailant, immediately sent messengers to

  all the surrounding powers, to request assistance against the common

  enemy, and ordered the immediate return of the duke of Calabria with

  the forces at Sienna.

  This attack, however it might annoy the duke and the rest of Italy,

  occasioned the utmost joy at Florence and Sienna; the latter thinking

  it had recovered its liberty, and the former that she had escaped a

  storm which threatened her with destruction. These impressions, which

  were not unknown to the duke, increased the regret he felt at his

  departure from Sienna; and he accused fortune of having, by an

  unexpected and unaccountable accident, deprived him of the sovereignty

  of Tuscany. The same circumstance changed the disposition of the pope;

  for although he had previously refused to receive any ambassador from

  Florence, he was now so mollified as to be anxious to listen to any

  overtures of peace; and it was intimated to the Florentines, that if

  they would condescend to ask the pope's pardon, they would be sure of

  obtaining it. Thinking it advisable to seize the opportunity, they

  sent twelve ambassadors to the pontiff, who, on their arrival,

  detained them under different pretexts before he would admit them to

  an audience. However, terms were at length settled, and what should be

  contributed by each in peace or war. The messengers were then admitted

  to the feet of the pontiff, who, with the utmost pomp, received them

  in the midst of his cardinals. They apologized for past occurrences;

  first showing they had been compelled by necessity, then blaming the

  malignity of others, or the rage of the populace, and their just

  indignation, and enlarging on the unfortunate condition of those who

  are compelled either to fight or die; saying, that since every

  extremity is endured in order to avoid death, they had suffered war,

  interdicts, and other inconveniences, brought upon them by recent

  events, that their republic might escape slavery, which is the death

  of free cities. However, if in their necessities they had committed

  any offense, they were desirous to make atonement, and trusted in his

  clemency, who, after the example of the blessed Redeemer, would

  receive them into his compassionate arms.

  The pope's reply was indignant and haughty. After reiterating all the

  offenses against the church during the late transactions, he said

  that, to comply with the precepts of God, he would grant the pardon

  they asked, but would have them understand, that it was their duty to

  obey; and that upon the next instance of their disobedience, they

  would inevitably forfeit, and that most deservedly, the liberty which

  they had just been upon the point of losing; for those merit freedom

  who exercise themselves in good works and avoid evil; that liberty,

  improperly used, injures itself and others; that to think little of

  God, and less of his church, is not the part of a free man, but a

  fool, and one disposed to evil rather than good, and to effect whose

  correction is the duty not only of princes but of every Christian; so

  that in respect of the recent events, they had only themselves to

  blame, who, by their evil deeds, had given rise to the war, and

  inflamed it by still worse actions, it having been terminated by the

  kindness of others rather than by any merit of their own. The formula

  of agreement and benediction was then read; and, in addition to what

  had already been considered and agreed upon between the parties, the

  pope said, that if the Florentines wished to enjoy the fruit of his

  forgiveness, they must maintain fifteen galleys, armed, and equipped,

  at their own expense, as long as the Turks should make war upon the

  kingdom of Naples. The ambassadors complained much of this burden in

  addition to the arrangement already made, but were unable to obtain

  any alleviation. However, after their return to Florence, the Signory

  sent, as ambassador to the pope, Guidantonio Vespucci, who had

  recently returned from France, and who by his prudence brought

  everything to an amicable conclusion, obtained many favors from the

  pontiff, which were considered as presages of a closer reconciliation.

  Having settled their affairs with the pope, Sienna being free,

  themselves released from the fear of the king, by the departure of the

  duke of Calabria from Tuscany, and the war with the Turks still

  continuing, the Florentines pressed the king to restore their

  fortresses, which the duke of Calabria, upon quitting the country, had

  left in the hands of the Siennese. Ferrando, apprehensive that if he

  refused, they would withdraw from the alliance with him, and by new

  wars with the Siennese deprive him of the assistance he hoped to

  obtain from the pope and other Italian powers, consented that they

  should be given up, and by new favors endeavored to attach the

  Florentines to his interests. It is thus evident, that force and

  necessity, not deeds and obligations, induce princes to keep faith.

  The castles being restored, and this new alliance established, Lorenzo

  de' Medici recovered the reputation which first the war and then the

  peace, when the king's designs were doubtful, had deprived him of; for

  at this period there was no lack of those who openly slandered him

  with having sold his country to save himself, and said, that in war

  they had lost their territories, and in peace their liberty. But the

  fortresses being recovered, an honorable treaty ratified with the

  king, and the city restored to her former influence, the spirit of

  public discourse entirely changed in Florence, a place greatly

  addicted to gossip, and in which actions are judged by the success

  attending them, rather than by the intelligence employed in their

  direction; therefore, the citizens praised Lorenzo extravagantly,

  declaring that by his prudence he had recovered in peace, what

  unfavorable circumstances had taken from them in war, and that by his

  discretion and judgment he had done more than the enemy with all the

  force of their arms.

  CHAPTER V

  New occasions of war in Italy--Differences between the marquis of

  Ferrara, and the Venetians--The king of Naples and the Florentines

  attack the papal states--The pope's defensive arrangements--The

  Neapolitan army routed by the papal forces--Progress of the

  Venetians against the marquis of Ferrara--The pope makes peace,

  and enters into a league against the Venetians--Operations of the

  League against the Venetians--The Venetians routed at Bondeno--

  Their losses--Disunion among the League--Lodovico Sforza makes

  peace with the Venetians--Ratified by the other parties.

  The invasion of the Turks had deferred the war which was about to

  break forth from the anger of the pope and the Venetians at the peace

  between the Florentines and the king. But as the beginning of that

  invasion was unexpected and beneficial, its conclusion was equally

  unlooke
d for and injurious; for Mahomet dying suddenly, dissensions

  arose among his sons, and the forces which were in Puglia being

  abandoned by their commander, surrendered Otranto to the king. The

  fears which restrained the pope and the Venetians being thus removed,

  everyone became apprehensive of new troubles. On the one hand, was the

  league of the pope and the Venetians, and with them the Genoese,

  Siennese, and other minor powers; on the other, the Florentines, the

  king, and the duke, with whom were the Bolognese and many princes. The

  Venetians wished to become lords of Ferrara, and thought they were

  justified by circumstances in making the attempt, and hoping for a

  favorable result. Their differences arose thus: the marquis of Ferrara

  affirmed he was under no obligation to take salt from the Venetians,

  or to admit their governor; the terms of convention between them

  declaring, that after seventy years, the city was to be free from both

  impositions. The Venetians replied, that so long as he held the

  Polesine, he was bound to receive their salt and their governor. The

  marquis refusing his consent, the Venetians considered themselves

  justified in taking arms, and that the present moment offered a

  suitable opportunity; for the pope was indignant against the

  Florentines and the king; and to attach the pope still further, the

  Count Girolamo, who was then at Venice, was received with all possible

  respect; first admitted to the privileges of a citizen, and then

  raised to the rank of a senator, the highest distinctions the Venetian

  senate can confer. To prepare for the war, they levied new taxes, and

  appointed to the command of the forces, Roberto da San Severino, who

  being offended with Lodovico, governor of Milan, fled to Tortona,

  whence, after occasioning some disturbances, he went to Genoa, and

  while there, was sent for by the Venetians, and placed at the head of

  their troops.

  These circumstances becoming known to the opposite league, induced it

  also to provide for war. The duke of Milan appointed as his general,

  Federigo d'Urbino; the Florentines engaged Costanzo, lord of Pesaro;

  and to sound the disposition of the pope, and know whether the

  Venetians made war against Ferrara with his consent or not, King

  Ferrando sent Alfonso, duke of Calabria, with his army across the

  Tronto, and asked the pontiff's permission to pass into Lombardy to

  assist the marquis, which was refused in the most peremptory manner.

  The Florentines and the king, no longer doubtful about the pope's

  intentions, determined to harass him, and thus either compel him to

  take part with them, or throw such obstacles in his way, as would

  prevent him from helping the Venetians, who had already taken the

  field, attacked the marquis, overran his territory, and encamped

  before Figaruolo, a fortress of the greatest importance. In pursuance

  of the design of the Florentines and the king, the duke of Calabria,

  by the assistance of the Colonna family (the Orsini had joined the

  pope), plundered the country about Rome and committed great

  devastation; while the Florentines, with Niccolo Vitelli, besieged and

  took Citta di Castello, expelling Lorenzo Vitelli, who held it for the

  pope, and placing Niccolo in it as prince.

  The pope now found himself in very great straits; for the city of Rome

  was disturbed by factions and the country covered with enemies. But

  acting with courage and resolution, he appointed Roberto da Rimino to

  take the command of his forces; and having sent for him to Rome, where

  his troops were assembled, told him how great would be the honor, if

  he could deliver the church from the king's forces, and the troubles

  in which it was involved; how greatly indebted, not only himself, but

  all his successors would be, and, that not mankind merely, but God

  himself would be under obligations to him. The magnificent Roberto,

  having considered the forces and preparations already made, advised

  the pope to raise as numerous a body of infantry as possible, which

  was done without delay. The duke of Calabria was at hand, and

  constantly harassed the country up to the very gates of Rome, which so

  roused the indignation of the citizens, that many offered their

  assistance to Roberto, and all were thankfully received. The duke,

  hearing of these preparations, withdrew a short distance from the

  city, that in the belief of finding him gone, the magnificent Roberto

  would not pursue him, and also in expectation of his brother Federigo,

  whom their father had sent to him with additional forces. But Roberto,

  finding himself nearly equal to the duke in cavalry, and superior in

  infantry, marched boldly out of Rome and took a position within two

  miles of the enemy. The duke, seeing his adversaries close upon him,

  found he must either fight or disgracefully retire. To avoid a retreat

  unbecoming a king's son, he resolved to face the enemy; and a battle

  ensued which continued from morning till midday. In this engagement,

  greater valor was exhibited on both sides than had been shown in any

  other during the last fifty years, upward of a thousand dead being

  left upon the field. The troops of the church were at length

  victorious, for her numerous infantry so annoyed the ducal cavalry,

  that they were compelled to retreat, and Alfonso himself would have

  fallen into the hands of the enemy, had he not been rescued by a body

  of Turks, who remained at Otranto, and were at that time in his

  service. The lord of Rimino, after this victory, returned triumphantly

  to Rome, but did not long enjoy the fruit of his valor; for having,

  during the heat of the engagement, taken a copious draught of water,

  he was seized with a flux, of which he very shortly afterward died.

  The pope caused his funeral to be conducted with great pomp, and in a

  few days, sent the Count Girolamo toward Citta di Castello to restore

  it to Lorenzo, and also endeavor to gain Rimino, which being by

  Roberto's death left to the care of his widow and a son who was quite

  a boy, his holiness thought might be easily won; and this certainly

  would have been the case, if the lady had not been defended by the

  Florentines, who opposed him so effectually, as to prevent his success

  against both Castello and Rimino.

  While these things were in progress at Rome and in Romagna, the

  Venetians took possession of Figaruolo and crossed the Po with their

  forces. The camp of the duke of Milan and the marquis was in disorder;

  for the count of Urbino having fallen ill, was carried to Bologna for

  his recovery, but died. Thus the marquis's affairs were unfortunately

  situated, while those of the Venetians gave them increasing hopes of

  occupying Ferrara. The Florentines and the king of Naples used their

  utmost endeavors to gain the pope to their views; and not having

  succeeded by force, they threatened him with the council, which had

  already been summoned by the emperor to assemble at Basle; and by

  means of the imperial ambassadors, and the co-operation of the leading

  cardinals, who were desirous of peace, the pope was compelled to turn


  his attention toward effecting the pacification of Italy. With this

  view, at the instigation of his fears, and with the conviction that

  the aggrandizement of the Venetians would be the ruin of the church

  and of Italy, he endeavored to make peace with the League, and sent

  his nuncios to Naples, where a treaty was concluded for five years,

  between the pope, the king, the duke of Milan, and the Florentines,

  with an opening for the Venetians to join them if they thought proper.

  When this was accomplished, the pope intimated to the Venetians, that

  they must desist from war against Ferrara. They refused to comply, and

  made preparations to prosecute their design with greater vigor than

  they had hitherto done; and having routed the forces of the duke and

  the marquis at Argenta, they approached Ferrara so closely as to pitch

  their tents in the marquis's park.

  The League found they must no longer delay rendering him efficient

  assistance, and ordered the duke of Calabria to march to Ferrara with

  his forces and those of the pope, the Florentine troops also moving in

  the same direction. In order to direct the operations of the war with

  greater efficiency, the League assembled a diet at Cremona, which was

  attended by the pope's legate, the Count Girolamo, the duke of

  Calabria, the Signor Lodovico Sforza, and Lorenzo de' Medici, with

  many other Italian princes; and when the measures to be adopted were

  fully discussed, having decided that the best way of relieving Ferrara

  would be to effect a division of the enemy's forces, the League

  desired Lodovico to attack the Venetians on the side of Milan, but

  this he declined, for fear of bringing a war upon the duke's

  territories, which it would be difficult to quell. It was therefore

  resolved to proceed with the united forces of the League to Ferrara,

  and having assembled four thousand cavalry and eight thousand

  infantry, they went in pursuit of the Venetians, whose force amounted

  to two thousand two hundred men at arms, and six thousand foot. They

  first attacked the Venetian flotilla, then lying upon the river Po,

  which they routed with the loss of above two hundred vessels, and took

  prisoner Antonio Justiniano, the purveyor of the fleet. The Venetians,

  finding all Italy united against them, endeavored to support their

  reputation by engaging in their service the duke of Lorraine, who

  joined them with two hundred men at arms: and having suffered so great

  a destruction of their fleet, they sent him, with part of their army,

  to keep their enemies at bay, and Roberto da San Severino to cross the

  Adda with the remainder, and proceed to Milan, where they were to

  raise the cry of "The duke and the Lady Bona," his mother; hoping by

  this means to give a new aspect to affairs there, believing that

  Lodovico and his government were generally unpopular. This attack at

  first created great consternation, and roused the citizens in arms;

  but eventually produced consequences unfavorable to the designs of the

  Venetians; for Lodovico was now desirous to undertake what he had

  refused to do at the entreaty of his allies. Leaving the marquis of

  Ferrara to the defense of his own territories, he, with four thousand

  horse and two thousand foot, and joined by the duke of Calabria with

  twelve thousand horse and five thousand foot, entered the territory of

  Bergamo, then Brescia, next that of Verona, and, in defiance of the

  Venetians, plundered the whole country; for it was with the greatest

  difficulty that Roberto and his forces could save the cities

  themselves. In the meantime, the marquis of Ferrara had recovered a

  great part of his territories; for the duke of Lorraine, by whom he

  was attacked, having only at his command two thousand horse and one

  thousand foot, could not withstand him. Hence, during the whole of

  1483, the affairs of the League were prosperous.

  The winter having passed quietly over, the armies again took the

  field. To produce the greater impression upon the enemy, the League

  united their whole force, and would easily have deprived the Venetians