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wish to possess Lucca； and the dread of a war with Milan。 As commonly
happens； fear was the most powerful； and they consented； after the
capture of Uzzano； that the count should go into Lombardy。 There still
remained another difficulty； which； depending on circumstances beyond
the reach of their influence； created more doubts and uneasiness than
the former； the count would not consent to pass the Po； and the
Venetians refused to accept him on any other condition。 Seeing no
other method of arrangement； than that each should make liberal
concessions； the Florentines induced the count to cross the river by a
letter addressed to the Signory of Florence； intimating that this
private promise did not invalidate any public engagement； and that he
might still refrain from crossing； hence it resulted that the
Venetians； having commenced the war； would be compelled to proceed；
and that the evil apprehended by the Florentines would be averted。 To
the Venetians； on the other hand； they averred that this private
letter was sufficiently binding； and therefore they ought to be
content； for if they could save the count from breaking with his
father…in…law； it was well to do so； and that it could be of no
advantage either to themselves or the Venetians to publish it without
some manifest necessity。 It was thus determined that the count should
pass into Lombardy； and having taken Uzzano； and raised bastions about
Lucca to restrain in her inhabitants； placed the management of the
siege in the hands of the commissaries； crossed the Apennines； and
proceeded to Reggio； when the Venetians； alarmed at his progress； and
in order to discover his intentions； insisted upon his immediately
crossing the Po； and joining the other forces。 The count refused
compliance； and many mutual recriminations took place between him and
Andrea Mauroceno； their messenger on this occasion； each charging the
other with arrogance and treachery： after many protestations； the one
of being under no obligation to perform that service； and the other of
not being bound to any payment； they parted； the count to return to
Tuscany； the other to Venice。
The Florentines had sent the count to encamp in the Pisan territory；
and were in hopes of inducing him to renew the war against the
Lucchese； but found him indisposed to do so； for the duke； having been
informed that out of regard to him he had refused to cross the Po；
thought that by this means he might also save the Lucchese； and begged
the count to endeavor to effect an accommodation between the
Florentines and the Lucchese； including himself in it； if he were
able； declaring； at the same time； the promised marriage should be
solemnized whenever he thought proper。 The prospect of this connection
had great influence with the count； for； as the duke had no sons； it
gave him hope of becoming sovereign of Milan。 For this reason he
gradually abated his exertions in the war； declared he would not
proceed unless the Venetians fulfilled their engagement as to the
payment； and also retained him in the command； that the discharge of
the debt would not alone be sufficient； for desiring to live peaceably
in his own dominions； he needed some alliance other than that of the
Florentines； and that he must regard his own interests； shrewdly
hinting that if abandoned by the Venetians； he would come to terms
with the duke。
These indirect and crafty methods of procedure were highly offensive
to the Florentines； for they found their expedition against Lucca
frustrated； and trembled for the safety of their own territories if
ever the count and the duke should enter into a mutual alliance。 To
induce the Venetians to retain the count in the command； Cosmo de'
Medici went to Venice； hoping his influence would prevail with them；
and discussed the subject at great length before the senate； pointing
out the condition of the Italian states； the disposition of their
armies； and the great preponderance possessed by the duke。 He
concluded by saying； that if the count and the duke were to unite
their forces； they （the Venetians） might return to the sea； and the
Florentines would have to fight for their liberty。 To this the
Venetians replied； that they were acquainted with their own strength
and that of the Italians； and thought themselves able at all events to
provide for their own defense； that it was not their custom to pay
soldiers for serving others； that as the Florentines had used the
count's services； they must pay him themselves； with respect to the
security of their own states； it was rather desirable to check the
count's pride than to pay him； for the ambition of men is boundless；
and if he were now paid without serving； he would soon make some other
demand； still more unreasonable and dangerous。 It therefore seemed
necessary to curb his insolence； and not allow it to increase till it
became incorrigible； and that if the Florentines； from fear or any
other motive； wished to preserve his friendship； they must pay him
themselves。 Cosmo returned without having effected any part of his
object。
The Florentines used the weightiest arguments they could adopt to
prevent the count from quitting the service of the League； a course he
was himself reluctant to follow； but his desire to conclude the
marriage so embarrassed him； that any trivial accident would have been
sufficient to determine his course； as indeed shortly happened。 The
count had left his territories in La Marca to the care of Il Furlano；
one of his principal condottieri； who was so far influenced by the
duke as to take command under him； and quit the count's service。 This
circumstance caused the latter to lay aside every idea but that of his
own safety； and to come to agreement with the duke； among the terms of
which compact was one that he should not be expected to interfere in
the affairs of Romagna and Tuscany。 The count then urged the
Florentines to come to terms with the Lucchese； and so convinced them
of the necessity of this； that seeing no better course to adopt； they
complied in April； 1438； by which treaty the Lucchese retained their
liberty； and the Florentines Monte Carlo and a few other fortresses。
After this； being full of exasperation； they despatched letters to
every part of Italy； overcharged with complaints； affecting to show
that since God and men were averse to the Lucchese coming under their
dominion； they had made peace with them。 And it seldom happens that
any suffer so much for the loss of their own lawful property as they
did because they could not obtain the possessions of others。
Though the Florentines had now so many affairs in hand； they did not
allow the proceedings of their neighbors to pass unnoticed； or neglect
the decoration of their city。 As before observed； Niccolo Fortebraccio
was dead。 He had married a daughter of the Count di Poppi； who； at the
decease of his son…in…law； held the Borgo San Sepolcro； and other
fortresses of that district； and while Niccolo lived； governed them in
his name。 Claiming them as his daughter's portion； he refused to give
them up to the pope； who demanded them as property held of the church；
and who； upon his refusal； sent the patriarch with forces to take
possession of them。 The count； finding himself unable to sustain the
attack； offered them to the Florentines； who declined them； but the
pope having returned to Florence； they interceded with him in the
count's behalf。 Difficulties arising； the patriarch attacked the
Casentino； took Prato Vecchio； and Romena； and offered them also to
the Florentines； who refused them likewise； unless the pope would
consent they should restore them to the count； to which； after much
hesitation； he acceded； on condition that the Florentines should
prevail with the Count di Poppi to restore the Borgo to him。 The pope
was thus satisfied； and the Florentines having so far completed the
building of their cathedral church of Santa Reparata； which had been
commenced long ago； as to enable them to perform divine service in it；
requested his holiness to consecrate it。 To this the pontiff willingly
agreed； and the Florentines； to exhibit the wealth of the city and the
splendor of the edifice； and do greater honor to the pope； erected a
platform from Santa Maria Novella； where he resided； to the cathedral
he was about to consecrate； six feet in height and twelve feet wide；
covered with rich drapery； for the accommodation of the pontiff and
his court； upon which they proceeded to the building； accompanied by
those civic magistrates； and other officers who were appointed to take
part in the procession。 The usual ceremonies of consecration having
been completed； the pope； to show his affection for the city；
conferred the honor of knighthood upon Giuliano Davanzati； their
Gonfalonier of Justice； and a citizen of the highest reputation； and
the Signory； not to appear less gracious than the pope； granted to the
new created