Chapter 54 - Page 2

defending their own possessions to endeavoring to seize those of
others. The troops, thus withdrawn from the pursuit of their good
fortune, were marched to San Casciano, a castle within eight miles of
Florence; the leaders thinking they could take up no other position
till the relics of the routed army were assembled. On the other hand,
the enemy being under no further restraint at Perugia, and emboldened
by the departure of the Florentines, plundered to a large amount in
the districts of Arezzo and Cortona; while those who under Alfonso,
duke of Calabria, had been victorious near Poggibonzi, took the town
itself; sacked Vico and Certaldo, and after these conquests and
pillagings encamped before the fortress of Colle, which was considered
very strong; and as the garrison was brave and faithful to the
Florentines, it was hoped they would hold the enemy at bay till the
republic was able to collect its forces. The Florentines being at
Santo Casciano, and the enemy continuing to use their utmost exertions
against Colle, they determined to draw nearer, that the inhabitants
might be more resolute in their defense, and the enemy assail them
less boldly. With this design they removed their camp from Santo
Casciano to Santo Geminiano, about five miles from Colle, and with
light cavalry and other suitable forces were able every day to annoy
the duke's camp. All this, however, was insufficient to relieve the
people of Colle; for, having consumed their provisions, they were
compelled to surrender on the thirteenth of November, to the great
grief of the Florentines, and joy of the enemy, more especially of the
Siennese, who, besides their habitual hatred of the Florentines, had a
particular animosity against the people of Colle.

It was now the depth of winter, and the weather so unsuitable for war,
that the pope and the king, either designing to hold out a hope of
peace, or more quietly to enjoy the fruit of their victories, proposed
a truce for three months to the Florentines, and allowed them ten days
to consider the reply. The offer was eagerly accepted; but as wounds
are well known to be more painful after the blood cools than when they
were first received, this brief repose awakened the Florentines to a
consciousness of the miseries they had endured; and the citizens
openly laid the blame upon each other, pointing out the errors
committed in the management of the war, the expenses uselessly
incurred, and the taxes unjustly imposed. These matters were boldly
discussed, not only in private circles, but in the public councils;
and one individual even ventured to turn to Lorenzo de' Medici, and
say, "The city is exhausted, and can endure no more war; it is
therefore necessary to think of peace." Lorenzo was himself aware of