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things being known to the count； he proceeded to Cremona； where his
ambassadors and those of the Milanese arranged for him to command the
forces of the new republic； with the same remuneration he had received
from the duke at the time of his decease。 To this they added the
possession of Brescia； until Verona was recovered； when he should have
that city and restore Brescia to the Milanese。
Before the duke's death； Pope Nicholas； after his assumption of the
pontificate； sought to restore peace among the princes of Italy； and
with this object endeavored； in conjunction with the ambassadors sent
by the Florentines to congratulate him on his accession； to appoint a
diet at Ferrara to attempt either the arrangement of a long truce； or
the establishment of peace。 A congress was accordingly held in that
city； of the pope's legate and the Venetian； ducal； and Florentine
representatives。 King Alfonso had no envoy there。 He was at Tivoli
with a great body of horse and foot； and favorable to the duke； both
having resolved； that having gained the count over to their side； they
would openly attack the Florentines and Venetians； and till the
arrival of the count in Lombardy； take part in the treaty for peace at
Ferrara； at which； though the king did not appear； he engaged to
concur in whatever course the duke should adopt。 The conference lasted
several days； and after many debates； resolved on either a truce for
five years； or a permanent peace； whichsoever the duke should approve；
and the ducal ambassadors； having returned to Milan to learn his
decision； found him dead。 Notwithstanding this； the Milanese were
disposed to adopt the resolutions of the assembly； but the Venetians
refused； indulging great hopes of becoming masters of Lombardy；
particularly as Lodi and Piacenza； immediately after the duke's death；
had submitted to them。 They trusted that either by force or by treaty
they could strip Milan of her power； and then so press her； as to
compel her also to surrender before any assistance could arrive； and
they were the more confident of this from seeing the Florentines
involved in war with King Alfonso。
The king being at Tivoli； and designing to pursue his enterprise
against Tuscany； as had been arranged between himself and Filippo；
judging that the war now commenced in Lombardy would give him both
time and opportunity； and wishing to have a footing in the Florentine
state before he openly commenced hostilities； opened a secret
understanding with the fortress of Cennina； in the Val d'Arno
Superiore； and took possession of it。 The Florentines； surprised with
this unexpected event； perceiving the king already in action； and
resolved to do them all the injury in his power； hired forces； created
a council of ten for management of the war； and prepared for the
conflict in their usual manner。 The king was already in the Siennese；
and used his utmost endeavors to reduce the city； but the inhabitants
of Sienna were firm in their attachment to the Florentines； and
refused to receive him within their walls or into any of their
territories。 They furnished him with provisions； alleging in excuse；
the enemy's power and their inability to resist。 The king； finding he
could not enter by the Val d'Arno； as he had first intended； both
because Cennina had been already retaken； and because the Florentines
were now in some measure prepared for their defense； turned toward
Volterra； and occupied many fortresses in that territory。 Thence he
proceeded toward Pisa； and with the assistance of Fazio and Arrigo de'
Conti； of the Gherardesca； took some castles； and issuing from them；
assailed Campiglia； but could not take it； the place being defended by
the Florentines； and it being now in the depth of winter。 Upon this
the king； leaving garrisons in the places he had taken to harass the
surrounding country； withdrew with the remainder of his army to
quarters in the Siennese。 The Florentines； aided by the season； used
the most active exertions to provide themselves troops； whose captains
were Federigo； lord of Urbino； and Gismondo Malatesti da Rimino； who；
though mutual foes； were kept so united by the prudence of the
commissaries； Neri di Gino and Bernardetto de' Medici； that they broke
up their quarters while the weather was still very severe and
recovered not only the places that had been taken in the territory of
Pisa； but also the Pomerancie in the neighborhood of Volterra； and so
checked the king's troops； which at first had overrun the Maremma；
that they could scarcely retain the places they had been left to
garrison。
Upon the return of the spring the commissaries halted with their whole
force； consisting of five thousand horse and two thousand foot； at the
Spedaletto。 The king approached with his army； amounting to fifteen
thousand men； within three miles of Campiglia； but when it was
expected he would attack the place he fell upon Piombino； hoping； as
it was insufficiently provided； to take it with very little trouble；
and thus acquire a very important position； the loss of which would be
severely felt by the Florentines； for from it he would be able to
exhaust them with a long war； obtain his own provision by sea； and
harass the whole territory of Pisa。 They were greatly alarmed at this
attack； and； considering that if they could remain with their army
among the woods of Campiglia； the king would be compelled to retire
either in defeat or disgrace。 With this view they equipped four
galleys at Livorno； and having succeeded in throwing three hundred
infantry into Piombino； took up their own position at the Caldane； a
place where it would be difficult to attack them； and they thought it
would be dangerous to encamp among the thickets of the plain。
The Florentine army depended for provisions on the surrounding places；
which； being poor and thinly inhabited； had difficulty in supplying
them。 Consequently the troops suffered； particularly from want of
wine； for none being produced in that vicinity； and unable to procure
it from more distant places； it was impossible to obtain a sufficient
quantity。 But the king； though closely pressed by the Florentines； was
well provided except in forage； for he obtained everything else by
sea。 The Florentines； desirous to supply themselves in the same
manner； loaded four vessels with provisions； but； upon their approach；
they were attacked by seven of the king's galleys； which took two of
them and put the rest to flight。 This disaster made them despair of
procuring provisions； so that two hundred men of a foraging party；
principally for want of wine； deserted to the king； and the rest
complained that they could not live without it； in a situation where
the heat was so excessive and the water bad。 The commissaries
therefore determined to quit the place； and endeavor to recover those
castles which still remained in the enemy's power； who； on his part；
though not suffering from want of provisions； and greatly superior in
numbers； found his enterprise a failure； from the ravages made in his
army by those diseases which the hot season produces in marshy
localities； and which prevailed to such an extent that many died
daily； and nearly all were affected。 These circumstances occasioned
overtures of peace。 The king demanded fifty thousand florins； and the
possession of Piombino。 When the terms were under consideration； many
citizens； desirous of peace； would have accepted them； declaring there
was no hope of bringing to a favorable conclusion a war which required
so much money to carry it on。 But Neri Capponi going to Florence；
placed the matter in a more correct light； and it was then unanimously
determined to reject the proposal； and take the lord of Piombino under
their protection； with an alliance offensive and defensive； provided
he did not abandon them； but assist in their defense as hitherto。 The
king being informed of this resolution； saw that； with his reduced
army； he could not gain the place； and withdrew in the same condition
as if completely routed； leaving behind him two thousand dead。 With
the remainder of his sick troops he retired to the Siennese territory；
and thence to his kingdom； incensed against the Florentines； and
threatening them with new wars upon the return of spring。
While these events were proceeding in Tuscany the Count Sforza； having
become leader of the Milanese forces； strenuously endeavored to secure
the friendship of Francesco Piccinino； who was also in their service；
that he might support him in his enterprises； or be less disposed to
do him injury。 He then took the field with his army； upon which the
people of Pavia； conscious of their inability to resist him； and
unwilling to obey the Milanese； offered to submit themselves to his
authority； on condition that he should not subject them to the power
of Milan。 The count desired the possession of Pavia； and considered
the circumstance a happy omen； a