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the Signory； not to appear less gracious than the pope； granted to the
new created knight the government of Pisa for one year。
There were at that time certain differences between the Roman and the
Greek churches； which prevented perfect conformity in divine service；
and at the last council of B鈒e； the prelates of the Western church
having spoken at great length upon the subject； it was resolved that
efforts should be made to bring the emperor and the Greek prelates to
the council at B鈒e； to endeavor to reconcile the Greek church with
the Roman。 Though this resolution was derogatory to the majesty of the
Greek empire； and offensive to its clergy； yet being then oppressed by
the Turks； and fearing their inability for defense； in order to have a
better ground for requesting assistance； they submitted； and
therefore； the emperor； the patriarch； with other prelates and barons
of Greece； to comply with the resolution of the council； assembled at
B鈒e； came to Venice； but being terrified by the plague then
prevailing； it was resolved to terminate their differences at
Florence。 The Roman and Greek prelates having held a conference during
several days； in which many long discussions took place； the Greeks
yielded； and agreed to adopt the ritual of the church of Rome。
CHAPTER IV
New wars in ItalyNiccolo Piccinino； in concert with the duke of
Milan； deceives the pope； and takes many places from the church
Niccolo attacks the VenetiansFears and precautions of the
FlorentinesThe Venetians request assistance of the Florentines
and of SforzaLeague against the duke of MilanThe Florentines
resolve to send the count to assist the VenetiansNeri di Gino
Capponi at VeniceHis discourse to the senateExtreme joy of the
Venetians。
Peace being restored between the Lucchese and Florentines； and the
duke and the count having become friends； hopes were entertained that
the arms of Italy would be laid aside； although those in the kingdom
of Naples； between Ren？of Anjou and Alfonso of Aragon； could find
repose only by the ruin of one party or the other。 And though the pope
was dissatisfied with the loss of so large a portion of his
territories； and the ambition of the duke and the Venetians was
obvious； still it was thought that the pontiff； from necessity； and
the others from weariness； would be advocates of peace。 However； a
different state of feeling prevailed； for neither the duke nor the
Venetians were satisfied with their condition； so that hostilities
were resumed； and Lombardy and Tuscany were again harassed by the
horrors of war。 The proud mind of the duke could not endure that the
Venetians should possess Bergamo and Brescia； and he was still further
annoyed； by hearing； that they were constantly in arms； and in the
daily practice of annoying some portion of his territories。 He
thought； however； that he should not only be able to restrain them；
but to recover the places he had lost； if the pope； the Florentines；
and the count could be induced to forego the Venetian alliance。 He
therefore resolved to take Romagna from the pontiff； imagining that
his holiness could not injure him； and that the Florentines； finding
the conflagration so near； either for their own sake would refrain
from interference； or if they did not； could not conveniently attack
him。 The duke was also aware of the resentment of the Florentines
against the Venetians； on account of the affair of Lucca； and he
therefore judged they would be the less eager to take arms against him
on their behalf。 With regard to the Count Francesco； he trusted that
their new friendship； and the hope of his alliance would keep him
quiet。 To give as little color as possible for complaint； and to lull
suspicion； particularly； because in consequence of his treaty with the
count； the latter could not attack Romagna； he ordered Niccolo
Piccinino； as if instigated by his own ambition to do so。
When the agreement between the duke and the count was concluded；
Niccolo was in Romagna； and in pursuance of his instructions from the
duke； affected to be highly incensed； that a connection had been
established between him and the count； his inveterate enemy。 He
therefore withdrew himself and his forces to Camurata； a place between
Furli and Ravenna； which he fortified； as if designing to remain there
some time； or till a new enterprise should present itself。 The report
of his resentment being diffused； Niccolo gave the pope to understand
how much the duke was under obligation to him； and how ungrateful he
proved； and he was persuaded that； possessing nearly all the arms of
Italy； under the two principal generals； he could render himself sole
ruler： but if his holiness pleased； of the two principal generals whom
he fancied he possessed； one would become his enemy； and the other be
rendered useless； for； if money were provided him； and he were kept in
pay； he would attack the territories held of the church by the count；
who being compelled to look to his own interests； could not subserve
the ambition of Filippo。 The pope giving entire credence to this
representation； on account of its apparent reasonableness； sent
Niccolo five thousand ducats and loaded him with promises of states
for himself and his children。 And though many informed him of the
deception； he could not give credit to them； nor would he endure the
conversation of any who seemed to doubt the integrity of Niccolo's
professions。 The city of Ravenna was held for the church by Ostasio da
Polenta。 Niccolo finding further delay would be detrimental； since his
son Francesco had； to the pope's great dishonor； pillaged Spoleto；
determined to attack Ravenna； either because he judged the enterprise
easy； or because he had a secret understanding with Ostasio； for in a
few days after the attack； the place capitulated。 He then took
Bologna； Imola； and Furli； and （what is worthy of remark） of twenty
fortresses held in that country for the pope； not one escaped falling
into his hands。 Not satisfied with these injuries inflicted on the
pontiff； he resolved to banter him by his words as well as ridicule
him by his deeds； and wrote； that he had only done as his holiness
deserved； for having unblushingly attempted to divide two such
attached friends as the duke and himself； and for having dispersed
over Italy letters intimating that he had quitted the duke to take
part with the Venetians。 Having taken possession of Romagna； Niccolo
left it under the charge of his son； Francesco； and with the greater
part of his troops； went into Lombardy； where joining the remainder of
the duke's forces； he attacked the country about Brescia； and having
soon completely conquered it； besieged the city itself。
The duke； who desired the Venetians to be left defenseless； excused
himself to the pope； the Florentines； and the count； saying； that if
the doings of Niccolo were contrary to the terms of the treaty； they
were equally contrary to his wishes； and by secret messengers； assured
them that when an occasion presented itself； he would give them a
convincing proof that they had been performed in disobedience to his
instructions。 Neither the count nor the Florentines believed him； but
thought； with reason； that these enterprises had been carried on to
keep them at bay； till he had subdued the Venetians； who； being full
of pride； and thinking themselves able alone to resist the duke； had
not deigned to ask for any assistance； but carried on the war under
their captain； Gattamelata。
Count Francesco would have wished； with the consent of the
Florentines； to go to the assistance of king Ren？ if the events of
Romagna and Lombardy had not hindered him； and the Florentines would
willingly have consented； from their ancient friendship to the French
dynasty； but the duke was entirely in favor of Alfonso。 Each being
engaged in wars near home； refrained from distant undertakings。 The
Florentines； finding Romagna occupied with the duke's forces； and the
Venetians defeated； as if foreseeing their own ruin in that of others；
entreated the count to come to Tuscany； where they might consider what
should be done to resist Filippo's power； which was now greater than
it had ever before been； assuring him that if his insolence were not
in some way curbed； all the powers of Italy would soon have to submit
to him。 The count felt the force of the fears entertained by the
Florentines； but his desire to secure the duke's alliance kept him in
suspense； and the duke； aware of this desire； gave him the greatest
assurance that his hopes would be realized as shortly as possible； if
he abstained from hostilities against him。 As the lady was now of
marriageable age； the duke had frequently made all suitable
preparations for the celebration of the ceremony； but on one pretext
or another they had always been wholly set aside。 He now； to give the
count greater confidence； added deeds to his wor