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could call to mind past events； and knew how craftily affairs are
conducted in this city； would not be so eager in this pursuit； for he
who advises it； when by your aid he has wrested the power from the
people； will； with the people's assistance； who will have become your
enemies； deprive you of it。 And it will happen to you as to Benedetto
Alberti； who； at the persuasion of those who were not his friends；
consented to the ruin of Giorgio Scali and Tommaso Strozzi； and
shortly afterward was himself sent into exile by the very same men。〃
He therefore advised Rinaldo to think more maturely of these things；
and endeavor to imitate his father； who； to obtain the benevolence of
all； reduced the price of salt； provided that whoever owed taxes under
half a florin should be at liberty to pay them or not； as he thought
proper； and that at the meeting of the Councils every one should be
free from the importunities of his creditors。 He concluded by saying；
that as regarded himself； he was disposed to let the government of the
city remain as it was。
CHAPTER III
Giovanni de' Medici acquires the favor of the peopleBravery of
Biaggio del MelanoBaseness of Zanobi del PinoThe Florentines
obtain the friendship of the lord of FaenzaLeague of the
Florentines with the VenetiansOrigin of the CatastoThe rich
citizens discontented with itPeace with the duke of MilanNew
disturbances on account of the Catasto。
These events； and the circumstances attending them； becoming known to
the people； contributed greatly to increase the reputation of
Giovanni； and brought odium on those who had made the proposals； but
he assumed an appearance of indifference； in order to give less
encouragement to those who by his influence were desirous of change。
In his discourse he intimated to every one that it is not desirable to
promote factions； but rather to extinguish them； and that whatever
might be expected of him； he only sought the union of the city。 This；
however； gave offense to many of his party； for they would have rather
seen him exhibit greater activity。 Among others so disposed； was
Alamanno de' Medici； who being of a restless disposition； never ceased
exciting him to persecute enemies and favor friends； condemning his
coldness and slow method of proceeding； which he said was the cause of
his enemies' practicing against him； and that these practices would
one day effect the ruin of himself and his friends。 He endeavored to
excite Cosmo； his son； with similar discourses； but Giovanni； for all
that was either disclosed or foretold him； remained unmoved； although
parties were now declared； and the city in manifest disunion。
There were at the palace； in the service of the Signory； two
chancellors； Ser Martino and Ser Pagolo。 The latter favored the party
of Niccolo da Uzzano； the former that of Giovanni； and Rinaldo； seeing
Giovanni unwilling to join them； thought it would be advisable to
deprive Ser Martino of his office； that he might have the palace more
completely under his control。 The design becoming known to his
adversaries； Ser Martino was retained and Ser Pagolo discharged； to
the great injury and displeasure of Rinaldo and his party。 This
circumstance would soon have produced most mischievous effects； but
for the war with which the city was threatened； and the recent defeat
suffered at Zagonara； which served to check the audacity of the
people； for while these events were in progress at Florence； Agnolo
della Pergola； with the forces of the duke； had taken all the towns
and cities possessed by the Florentines in Romagna； except Castracaro
and Modigliano； partly from the weakness of the places themselves； and
partly by the misconduct of those who had the command of them。 In the
course of the campaign； two instances occurred which served to show
how greatly courage is admired even in enemies； and how much cowardice
and pusillanimity are despised。
Biaggio del Melano was castellan in the fortress of Monte Petroso。
Being surrounded by enemies； and seeing no chance of saving the place；
which was already in flames； he cast clothes and straw from a part
which was not yet on fire； and upon these he threw his two little
children； saying to the enemy； 〃Take to yourselves those goods which
fortune has bestowed upon me； and of which you may deprive me； but
those of the mind； in which my honor and glory consist； I will not
give up； neither can you wrest them from me。〃 The besiegers ran to
save the children； and placed for their father ropes and ladders； by
which to save himself； but he would not use them； and rather chose to
die in the flames than owe his safety to the enemies of his country：
an example worthy of that much lauded antiquity； which offers nothing
to surpass it； and which we admire the more from the rarity of any
similar occurrence。 Whatever could be recovered from the ruins； was
restored for the use of the children； and carefully conveyed to their
friends； nor was the republic less grateful； for as long as they
lived； they were supported at her charge。
An example of an opposite character occurred at Galeata； where Zanobi
del Pino was governor； he； without offering the least resistance； gave
up the fortress to the enemy； and besides this； advised Agnolo della
Pergola to leave the Alps of Romagna； and come among the smaller hills
of Tuscany； where he might carry on the war with less danger and
greater advantage。 Agnolo could not endure the mean and base spirit of
this man； and delivered him to his own attendants； who； after many
reproaches； gave him nothing to eat but paper painted with snakes；
saying； that of a Guelph they would make him a Ghibelline； and thus
fasting； he died in a few days。
At this time Count Oddo and Niccolo Piccinino entered the Val di
Lamona； with the design of bringing the lord of Faenza over to the
Florentines； or at least inducing him to restrain the incursions of
Agnolo della Pergola into Romagna； but as this valley is naturally
strong； and its inhabitants warlike； Count Oddo was slain there； and
Niccolo Piccinino sent a prisoner to Faenza。 Fortune； however； caused
the Florentines to obtain by their loss； what； perhaps； they would
have failed to acquire by victory； for Niccolo so prevailed with the
lord of Faenza and his mother； that they became friends of the
Florentines。 By this treaty； Niccolo Piccinino was set at liberty； but
did not take the advice he had given others； for while in treaty with
the city； concerning the terms of his engagement； either the
conditions proposed were insufficient； or he found better elsewhere；
for quite suddenly he left Arezzo； where he had been staying； passed
into Lombardy； and entered the service of the duke。
The Florentines； alarmed by this circumstance； and reduced to
despondency by their frequent losses； thought themselves unable to
sustain the war alone； and sent ambassadors to the Venetians； to beg
they would lend their aid to oppose the greatness of one who； if
allowed to aggrandize himself； would soon become as dangerous to them
as to the Florentines themselves。 The Venetians were advised to adopt
the same course by Francesco Carmignuola； one of the most
distinguished warriors of those times； who had been in the service of
the duke； and had afterward quitted it； but they hesitated； not
knowing how far to trust him； for they thought his enmity with the
duke was only feigned。 While in this suspense； it was found that the
duke； by means of a servant of Carmignuola； had caused poison to be
given him in his food； which； although it was not fatal； reduced him
to extremity。 The truth being discovered； the Venetians laid aside
their suspicion； and as the Florentines still solicited their
assistance； a treaty was formed between the two powers； by which they
agreed to carry on the war at the common expense of both： the
conquests in Lombardy to be assigned to the Venetians； those in
Romagna and Tuscany to the Florentines； and Carmignuola was appointed
Captain General of the League。 By this treaty the war was commenced in
Lombardy； where it was admirably conducted； for in a few months many
places were taken from the duke； together with the city of Brescia；
the capture of which was in those days considered a most brilliant
exploit。
The war had continued from 1422 to 1427； and the citizens of Florence
were so wearied of the taxes that had been imposed during that time；
that it was resolved to revise them； preparatory to their
amelioration。 That they might be equalized according to the means of
each citizen； it was proposed that whoever possessed property of the
value of one hundred florins should pay half a florin of taxes。
Individual contribution would thus be determined by an invariable
rule； and not left to the discretion of parties； and as it was found
that the new method would press heavily upon the powerful classes；
they used their utmost endeavors to pr