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keys of the city and the treasure。 Pagolo said the treasure was
consumed； but the keys and himself were in their power； he only begged
that as his command had begun and continued without bloodshed； it
might conclude in the same manner。 Count Francesco conducted Pagolo
and his son to the duke； and they afterward died in prison。
The departure of the count having delivered Lucca from her tyrant； and
the Florentines from their fear of his soldiery； the former prepared
for her defense； and the latter resumed the siege。 They appointed the
count of Urbino to conduct their forces； and he pressed the Lucchese
so closely； that they were again compelled to ask the assistance of
the duke； who dispatched Niccolo Piccinino； under the same pretense as
he previously sent Count Francesco。 The Florentine forces met him on
his approach to Lucca； and at the passage of the Serchio a battle
ensued； in which they were routed； the commissary with a few of his
men escaping to Pisa。 This defeat filled the Florentines with dismay；
and as the enterprise had been undertaken with the entire approbation
of the great body of the people； they did not know whom to find fault
with； and therefore railed against those who had been appointed to the
management of the war； reviving the charges made against Rinaldo。 They
were； however； more severe against Giovanni Guicciardini than any
other； declaring that if he had wished； he might have put a period to
the war at the departure of Count Francesco； but that he had been
bribed with money； for he had sent home a large sum； naming the party
who had been intrusted to bring it； and the persons to whom it had
been delivered。 These complaints and accusations were carried to so
great a length that the captain of the people； induced by the public
voice； and pressed by the party opposed to the war； summoned him to
trial。 Giovanni appeared； though full of indignation。 However his
friends； from regard to their own character； adopted such a course
with the Capitano as induced him to abandon the inquiry。
After this victory； the Lucchese not only recovered the places that
had belonged to them； but occupied all the country of Pisa except
Beintina； Calcinaja； Livorno； and Librafatta； and； had not a
conspiracy been discovered that was formed in Pisa； they would have
secured that city also。 The Florentines again prepared for battle； and
appointed Micheletto； a pupil of Sforza； to be their leader。 The duke；
on the other hand； followed up this victory； and that he might bring a
greater power against the Florentines； induced the Genoese； the
Siennese； and the governor of Piombino； to enter into a league for the
defense of Lucca； and to engage Niccolo Piccinino to conduct their
forces。 Having by this step declared his design； the Venetians and the
Florentines renewed their league； and the war was carried on openly in
Tuscany and Lombardy； in each of which several battles were fought
with variety of fortune。 At length； both sides being wearied out； they
came to terms for the cessation of hostilities； in May； 1433。 By this
arrangement the Florentines； Lucchese； and Siennese； who had each
occupied many fortresses belonging to the others； gave them all up；
and each party resumed its original possessions。
CHAPTER VI
Cosmo de' Medici； his character and mode of proceedingsThe
greatness of Cosmo excites the jealousy of the citizensThe
opinion of Niccolo da UzzanoScandalous divisions of the
FlorentinesDeath of Niccolo da UzzanoBernardo Guadagni；
Gonfalonier； adopts measures against CosmoCosmo arrested in the
palaceHe is apprehensive of attempts against his life。
During the war the malignant humors of the city were in constant
activity。 Cosmo de' Medici； after the death of Giovanni； engaged more
earnestly in public affairs； and conducted himself with more zeal and
boldness in regard to his friends than his father had done； so that
those who rejoiced at Giovanni's death； finding what the son was
likely to become； perceived they had no cause for exultation。 Cosmo
was one of the most prudent of men； of grave and courteous demeanor；
extremely liberal and humane。 He never attempted anything against
parties； or against rulers； but was bountiful to all； and by the
unwearied generosity of his disposition； made himself partisans of all
ranks of the citizens。 This mode of proceeding increased the
difficulties of those who were in the government； and Cosmo himself
hoped that by its pursuit he might be able to live in Florence as much
respected and as secure as any other citizen； or if the ambition of
his adversaries compelled him to adopt a different course； arms and
the favor of his friends would enable him to become more so。 Averardo
de' Medici and Puccio Pucci were greatly instrumental in the
establishment of his power； the former by his boldness； the latter by
unusual prudence and sagacity； contributed to his aggrandizement。
Indeed the advice of wisdom of Puccio were so highly esteemed； that
Cosmo's party was rather distinguished by the name of Puccio than by
his own。
By this divided city the enterprise against Lucca was undertaken； and
the bitterness of party spirit； instead of being abated； increased。
Although the friends of Cosmo had been in favor of it； many of the
adverse faction were sent to assist in the management； as being men of
greater influence in the state。 Averardo de' Medici and the rest being
unable to prevent this； endeavored with all their might to calumniate
them； and when any unfavorable circumstance occurred （and there were
many）； fortune and the exertions of the enemy were never supposed to
be the causes； but solely the want of capacity in the commissary。 This
disposition aggravated the offenses of Astorre Gianni； this excited
the indignation of Rinaldo degli Albizzi； and made him resign his
commission without leave； this； too； compelled the captain of the
people to require the appearance of Giovanni Guicciardini； and from
this arose all the other charges which were made against the
magistrates and the commissaries。 Real evils were magnified； unreal
ones feigned； and the true and the false were equally believed by the
people； who were almost universally their foes。
All these events and extraordinary modes of proceeding were perfectly
known to Niccolo da Uzzano and the other leaders of the party； and
they had often consulted together for the purpose of finding a remedy；
but without effect； though they were aware of the danger of allowing
them to increase； and the great difficulty that would attend any
attempt to remove or abate them。 Niccolo da Uzzano was the earliest to
take offense； and while the war was proceeding without； and these
troubles within； Niccolo Barbadoro desirous of inducing him to consent
to the ruin of Cosmo； waited upon him at his house； and finding him
alone in his study； and very pensive； endeavored； with the best
reasons he could advance； to persuade him to agree with Rinaldo on
Cosmo's expulsion。 Niccolo da Uzzano replied as follows： 〃It would be
better for thee and thy house； as well as for our republic； if thou
and those who follow thee in this opinion had beards of silver instead
of gold； as is said of thee； for advice proceeding from the hoary head
of long experience would be wiser and of greater service to all。 It
appears to me； that those who talk of driving Cosmo out of Florence
would do well to consider what is their strength； and what that of
Cosmo。 You have named one party； that of the nobility； the other that
of the plebeians。 If the fact corresponded with the name； the victory
would still be most uncertain； and the example of the ancient nobility
of this city； who were destroyed by the plebeians； ought rather to
impress us with fear than with hope。 We have； however； still further
cause for apprehension from the division of our party； and the union
of our adversaries。 In the first place； Neri di Gino and Nerone di
Nigi； two of our principal citizens； have never so fully declared
their sentiments as to enable us to determine whether they are most
our friends our those of our opponents。 There are many families； even
many houses； divided； many are opposed to us through envy of brothers
or relatives。 I will recall to your recollection two or three of the
most important； you may think of the others at your leisure。 Of the
sons of Maso degli Albizzi； Luca； from envy of Rinaldo； has thrown
himself into their hands。 In the house of Guicciardini； of the sons of
Luigi； Piero is the enemy of Giovanni and in favor of our adversaries。
Tommaso and Niccolo Soderini openly oppose us on account of their
hatred of their uncle Francesco。 So that if we consider well what we
are； and what our enemies； I cannot see why we should be called NOBLE
any more than they。 If it is because they are followed by the
plebeians； we are in a worse condition on that account； and they in a
better； for were it t