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upon the hill； that they might also attack the place on that side。
Jacopo Guicciardini was commissary of the army； and while the siege of
Pietra Santa was going on； the Genoese took and burned the fortress of
Vada； and； landing their forces； plundered the surrounding country。
Biongianni Gianfigliazzi was sent against them； with a body of horse
and foot； and checked their audacity； so that they pursued their
depredations less boldly。 The fleet continuing its efforts went to
Livorno； and by pontoons and other means approached the new tower；
playing their artillery upon it for several days； but being unable to
make any impression they withdrew。
In the meantime the Florentines proceeded slowly against Pietra Santa；
and the enemy taking courage attacked and took their works upon the
hill。 This was effected with so much glory； and struck such a panic
into the Florentines； that they were almost ready to raise the siege；
and actually retreated a distance of four miles； for their generals
thought that they would retire to winter quarters； it being now
October； and make no further attempt till the return of spring。
When the discomfiture was known at Florence； the government was filled
with indignation； and； to impart fresh vigor to the enterprise； and
restore the reputation of their forces； they immediately appointed
Antonio Pucci and Bernardo del Neri commissaries； who； with vast sums
of money； proceeded to the army； and intimated the heavy displeasure
of the Signory； and of the whole city； if they did not return to the
walls； and what a disgrace； if so large an army and so many generals；
having only a small garrison to contend with； could not conquer so
poor and weak a place。 They explained the immediate and future
advantages that would result from the acquisition； and spoke so
forcibly upon the subject； that all became anxious to renew the
attack。 They resolved； in the first place； to recover the rampart upon
the hill； and here it was evident how greatly humanity； affability；
and condescension influence the minds of soldiers； for Antonio Pucci；
by encouraging one and promising another； shaking hands with this man
and embracing that； induced them to proceed to the charge with such
impetuosity； that they gained possession of the rampart in an instant。
However； the victory was not unattended by misfortune； for Count
Antonio da Marciano was killed by a cannon shot。 This success filled
the townspeople with so much terror； that they began to make proposals
for capitulation； and to invest the surrender with imposing solemnity；
Lorenzo de' Medici came to the camp； when； after a few days； the
fortress was given up。 It being now winter； the leaders of the
expedition thought it unadvisable to make any further effort until the
return of spring； more particularly because the autumnal air had been
so unhealthy that numbers were affected by it。 Antonio Pucci and
Biongianni Gianfigliazzi were taken ill and died； to the great regret
of all； so greatly had Antonio's conduct at Pietra Santa endeared him
to the army。
Upon the taking of Pietra Santa； the Lucchese sent ambassadors to
Florence； to demand its surrender to their republic； on account of its
having previously belonged to them； and because； as they alleged； it
was in the conditions that places taken by either party were to be
restored to their original possessors。 The Florentines did not deny
the articles； but replied that they did not know whether； by the
treaty between themselves and the Genoese； which was then under
discussion； it would have to be given up or not； and therefore could
not reply to that point at present； but in case of its restitution； it
would first be necessary for the Lucchese to reimburse them for the
expenses they had incurred and the injury they had suffered； in the
death of so many citizens； and that when this was satisfactorily
arranged； they might entertain hopes of obtaining the place。
The whole winter was consumed in negotiations between the Florentines
and Genoese； which； by the pope's intervention； were carried on at
Rome； but not being concluded upon the return of spring； the
Florentines would have attacked Serezana had they not been prevented
by the illness of Lorenzo de' Medici； and the war between the pope and
King Ferrando； for Lorenzo was afflicted not only by the gout； which
seemed hereditary in his family； but also by violent pains in the
stomach； and was compelled to go the baths for relief。
The more important reason was furnished by the war； of which this was
the origin。 The city of L'Aquila； though subject to the kingdom of
Naples； was in a manner free； and the Count di Montorio possessed
great influence over it。 The duke of Calabria was upon the banks of
the Tronto with his men…at…arms； under pretense of appeasing some
disturbances among the peasantry； but really with a design of reducing
L'Aquila entirely under the king's authority； and sent for the Count
di Montorio； as if to consult him upon the business he pretended then
to have in hand。 The count obeyed without the least suspicion； and on
his arrival was made prisoner by the duke and sent to Naples。 When
this circumstance became known at L'Aquila； the anger of the
inhabitants arose to the highest pitch； taking arms they killed
Antonio Cencinello； commissary for the king； and with him some
inhabitants known partisans of his majesty。 The L'Aquilani； in order
to have a defender in their rebellion； raised the banner of the
church； and sent envoys to the pope； to submit their city and
themselves to him； beseeching that he would defend them as his own
subjects against the tyranny of the king。 The pontiff gladly undertook
their defense； for he had both public and private reasons for hating
that monarch； and Signor Roberto of San Severino； an enemy of the duke
of Milan； being disengaged； was appointed to take the command of his
forces； and sent for with all speed to Rome。 He entreated the friends
and relatives of the Count di Montorio to withdraw their allegiance
from the king； and induced the princes of Altimura； Salerno； and
Bisignano to take arms against him。 The king； finding himself so
suddenly involved in war； had recourse to the Florentines and the duke
of Milan for assistance。 The Florentines hesitated with regard to
their own conduct； for they felt all the inconvenience of neglecting
their own affairs to attend to those of others； and hostilities
against the church seemed likely to involve much risk。 However； being
under the obligation of a League； they preferred their honor to
convenience or security； engaged the Orsini； and sent all their own
forces under the Count di Pitigliano toward Rome； to the assistance of
the king。 The latter divided his forces into two parts； one； under the
duke of Calabria； he sent toward Rome； which； being joined by the
Florentines； opposed the army of the church； with the other； under his
own command； he attacked the barons； and the war was prosecuted with
various success on both sides。 At length； the king； being universally
victorious； peace was concluded by the intervention of the ambassadors
of the king of Spain； in August； 1486； to which the pope consented；
for having found fortune opposed to him he was not disposed to tempt
it further。 In this treaty all the powers of Italy were united； except
the Genoese； who were omitted as rebels against the republic of Milan；
and unjust occupiers of territories belonging to the Florentines。 Upon
the peace being ratified； Roberto da San Severino； having been during
the war a treacherous ally of the church； and by no means formidable
to her enemies； left Rome； being followed by the forces of the duke
and the Florentines； after passing Cesena； found them near him； and
urging his flight reached Ravenna with less than a hundred horse。 Of
his forces； part were received into the duke's service； and part were
plundered by the peasantry。 The king； being reconciled with his
barons； put to death Jacopo Coppola and Antonello d'Aversa and their
sons； for having； during the war； betrayed his secrets to the pope。
CHAPTER VII
The pope becomes attached to the FlorentinesThe Genoese seize
SerezanelloThey are routed by the FlorentinesSerezana
surrendersGenoa submits to the duke of MilanWar between the
Venetians and the DutchOsimo revolts from the churchCount
Girolamo Riario； lord of Furli； slain by a conspiracyGaleotto；
lord of Faenza； is murdered by the treachery of his wifeThe
government of the city offered to the FlorentinesDisturbances in
SiennaDeath of Lorenzo de' MediciHis eulogyEstablishment of
his familyEstates bought by LorenzoHis anxiety for the defense
of FlorenceHis taste for arts and literatureThe university of
PisaThe estimation of Lorenzo by other princes。
The pope having observed in the course of the war； how promptly and
earnestly the Florentines adhered to their alliances； although he