Chapter 48 - Page 2

sufficient to alarm the enemy; but they considered his own safety and
that of his dominions, much more important than their own immediate
convenience; because so long as the former were safe, the Florentines
had nothing to fear, and all would go well; but if his dominions were
to suffer, they might then apprehend all kinds of misfortune. They
assured him they did not think it prudent for him to be absent so long
from Milan, having recently succeeded to the government, and being
surrounded by many powerful enemies and suspected neighbors; while any
who were desirous of plotting against him, had an opportunity of doing
so with impunity. They would, therefore, advise him to return to his
territories, leaving part of his troops with them for the use of the
expedition. This advice pleased Galeazzo, who, in consequence,
immediately withdrew to Milan. The Florentine generals being now left
without any hindrance, to show that the cause assigned for their
inaction was the true one, pressed the enemy more closely, so that
they came to a regular engagement, which continued half a day, without
either party yielding. Some horses were wounded and prisoners taken,
but no death occurred. Winter having arrived, and with it the usual
time for armies to retire into quarters, Bartolommeo Coglione withdrew
to Ravenna, the Florentine forces into Tuscany, and those of the king
and duke, each to the territories of their sovereign. As this attempt
had not occasioned any tumult in Florence, contrary to the rebels'
expectation, and the troops they had hired were in want of pay, terms
of peace were proposed, and easily arranged. The revolted Florentines,
thus deprived of hope, dispersed themselves in various places.
Diotisalvi Neroni withdrew to Ferrara, where he was received and
entertained by the Marquis Borso. Niccolo Soderini went to Ravenna,
where, upon a small pension allowed by the Venetians, he grew old and
died. He was considered a just and brave man, but over-cautious and
slow to determine, a circumstance which occasioned him, when
Gonfalonier of Justice, to lose the opportunity of victory which he
would have gladly recovered when too late.

Upon the restoration of peace, those who remained victorious in
Florence, as if unable to convince themselves they had conquered,
unless they oppressed not merely their enemies, but all whom they
suspected, prevailed upon Bardo Altoviti, then Gonfalonier of Justice,
to deprive many of the honors of government, and to banish several
more. They exercised their power so inconsiderately, and conducted
themselves in such an arbitrary manner, that it seemed as if fortune
and the Almighty had given the city up to them for a prey. Piero knew
little of these things, and was unable to remedy even the