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legate of Bologna； in opposition to his engagement respecting the
Panaro。 These things disturbed the minds of the citizens； and made
them； apprehensive of new troubles； consider the means to be adopted
for their defense。
The dissatisfaction of the Florentines coming to the knowledge of
Filippo； he； either to justify himself； or to become acquainted with
their prevailing feelings； or to lull them to repose； sent ambassadors
to the city； to intimate that he was greatly surprised at the
suspicions they entertained； and offered to revoke whatever he had
done that could be thought a ground of jealousy。 This embassy produced
no other effect than that of dividing the citizens； one party； that in
greatest reputation； judged it best to arm； and prepare to frustrate
the enemy's designs； and if he were to remain quiet； it would not be
necessary to go to war with him； but an endeavor might be made to
preserve peace。 Many others； whether envious of those in power； or
fearing a rupture with the duke； considered it unadvisable so lightly
to entertain suspicions of an ally； and thought his proceedings need
not have excited so much distrust； that appointing the ten and hiring
forces was in itself a manifest declaration of war； which； if
undertaken against so great a prince； would bring certain ruin upon
the city without the hope of any advantage； for possession could never
be retained of the conquests that might be made； because Romagna lay
between； and the vicinity of the church ought to prevent any attempt
against Romagna itself。 However the views of those who were in favor
of war prevailed； the Council of Ten were appointed； forces were
hired； and new taxes levied； which； as they were more burdensome upon
the lower than the upper ranks； filled the city with complaints； and
all condemned the ambition and avarice of the great； declaring that；
to gratify themselves and oppress the people； they would go to war
without any justifiable motive。
They had not yet come to an open rupture with the duke； but everything
tended to excite suspicion； for Filippo had； at the request of the
legate of Bologna （who was in fear of Antonio Bentivogli； an emigrant
of Bologna at Castel Bolognese）； sent forces to that city； which；
being close upon the Florentine territory； filled the citizens with
apprehension； but what gave every one greater alarm； and offered
sufficient occasion for the declaration of war； was the expedition
made by the duke against Furli。 Giorgio Ordelaffi was lord of Furli；
who dying； left Tibaldo； his son； under the guardianship of Filippo。
The boy's mother； suspicious of his guardian； sent him to Lodovico
Alidossi； her father； who was lord of Imola； but she was compelled by
the people of Furli to obey the will of her deceased husband； to
withdraw him from the natural guardian； and place him in the hands of
the duke。 Upon this Filippo； the better to conceal his purpose； caused
the Marquis of Ferrara to send Guido Torello as his agent； with
forces； to seize the government of Furli； and thus the territory fell
into the duke's hands。 When this was known at Florence； together with
the arrival of forces at Bologna； the arguments in favor of war were
greatly strengthened； but there were still many opposed to it； and
among the rest Giovanni de' Medici； who publicly endeavored to show；
that even if the ill designs of the duke were perfectly manifest； it
would still be better to wait and let him commence the attack； than to
assail him； for in the former case they would be justified in the view
of the princes of Italy as well as in their own； but if they were to
strike the first blow at the duke； public opinion would be as
favorable to him as to themselves； and besides； they could not so
confidently demand assistance as assailants； as they might do if
assailed； and that men always defend themselves more vigorously when
they attack others。 The advocates of war considered it improper to
await the enemy in their houses； and better to go and seek him； that
fortune is always more favorable to assailants than to such as merely
act on the defensive； and that it is less injurious； even when
attended with greater immediate expense； to make war at another's door
than at our own。 These views prevailed； and it was resolved that the
ten should provide all the means in their power for rescuing Furli
from the hands of the duke。
Filippo； finding the Florentines resolved to occupy the places he had
undertaken to defend； postponed all personal considerations； and sent
Agnolo della Pergola with a strong force against Imola； that Ludovico；
having to provide for the defense of his own possessions； might be
unable to protect the interests of his grandson。 Agnolo approached
Imola while the forces of the Florentines were at Modigliana； and an
intense frost having rendered the ditches of the city passable； he
crossed them during the night； captured the place； and sent Lodovico a
prisoner to Milan。 The Florentines finding Imola in the hands of the
enemy； and the war publicly known； sent their forces to Furli and
besieged it on all sides。 That the duke's people might not relieve it；
they hired Count Alberigo； who from Zagonara； his own domain； overran
the country daily； up to the gates of Imola。 Agnolo della Pergola；
finding the strong position which the Florentines had taken prevented
him from relieving Furli； determined to attempt the capture of
Zagonara； thinking they would not allow that place to be lost； and
that in the endeavor to relieve it they would be compelled to give up
their design against Furli； and come to an engagement under great
disadvantage。 Thus the duke's people compelled Alberigo to sue for
terms； which he obtained on condition of giving up Zagonara； if the
Florentines did not relieve him within fifteen days。 This misfortune
being known in the Florentine camp and in the city； and all being
anxious that the enemy should not obtain the expected advantage； they
enabled him to secure a greater； for having abandoned the siege of
Furli to go to the relief of Zagonara； on encountering the enemy they
were soon routed； not so much by the bravery of their adversaries as
by the severity of the season； for； having marched many hours through
deep mud and heavy rain； they found the enemy quite fresh； and were
therefore easily vanquished。 Nevertheless； in this great defeat；
famous throughout all Italy； no death occurred except those of
Lodovico degli Obizi and two of his people； who having fallen from
their horses were drowned in the morass。
CHAPTER II
The Florentines murmur against those who had been advocates of the
warRinaldo degli Albizzi encourages the citizensMeasures for
the prosecution of the warAttempt of the higher classes to
deprive the plebeians of their share in the governmentRinaldo
degli Albizzi addresses an assembly of citizens and advises the
restoration of the /Grandi/Niccolo da Uzzano wishes to have
Giovanni de' Medici on their sideGiovanni disapproves of the
advice of Rinaldo degli Albizzi。
The defeat at Zagonara spread consternation throughout Florence； but
none felt it so severely as the nobility； who had been in favor of the
war； for they perceived their enemies to be inspirited and themselves
disarmed； without friends； and opposed by the people； who at the
corners of streets insulted them with sarcastic expressions；
complaining of the heavy taxes； and the unnecessary war； and saying；
〃Oh！ they appointed the ten to frighten the enemy。 Have they relieved
Furli； and rescued her from the hands of the duke？ No！ but their
designs have been discovered； and what had they in view？ not the
defense of liberty； for they do not love her； but to aggrandize their
own power； which God has very justly abated。 This is not the only
enterprise by many a one with which they have oppressed the city； for
the war against King Ladislaus was of a similar kind。 To whom will
they flee for assistance now？ to Pope Martin； whom they ridiculed
before the face of Braccio； or to Queen Giovanna； whom they abandoned；
and compelled to throw herself under the protection of the king of
Aragon？〃 To these reproaches was added all that might be expected from
an enraged multitude。
Seeing the discontent so prevalent； the Signory resolved to assemble a
few citizens； and with soft words endeavor to soothe the popular
irritation。 On this occasion； Rinaldo degli Albizzi； the eldest son of
Maso； who； by his own talents and the respect he derived from the
memory of his father； aspired to the first offices in the government；
spoke at great length； showing that it is not right to judge of
actions merely by their effects； for it often happens that what has
been very maturely considered is attended with unfavorable results：
that if we are to applaud evil counsels because they are sometimes
followed by fortunate events； we should only encourage men in error
which w