The Florentines prepare for war against the pope — They appeal to a future council — Papal and Neapolitan movements against the Florentines — The Venetians refuse to assist the Florentines — Disturbances1 in Milan — Genoa revolts from the duke — Futile2 endeavors to effect peace with the pope — The Florentines repulse3 their enemies from the territory of Pisa — They attack the papal states — The papal forces routed upon the borders of the Lake of Perugia.
The Florentines now prepared for war, by raising money and collecting as large a force as possible. Being in league with the duke of Milan and the Venetians, they applied5 to both for assistance. As the pope had proved himself a wolf rather than a shepherd, to avoid being devoured6 under false accusations7, they justified8 their cause with all available arguments, and filled Italy with accounts of the treachery practiced against their government, exposing the impiety9 and injustice10 of the pontiff, and assured the world that the pontificate which he had wickedly attained11, he would as impiously fill; for he had sent those whom he had advanced to the highest order of prelacy, in the company of traitors12 and parricides, to commit the most horrid13 treachery in the church in the midst of divine service and during the celebration of the holy sacrament, and that then, having failed to murder the citizens, change the government, and plunder14 the city, according to his intention, he had suspended the performance of all religious offices, and injuriously menaced and injured the republic with pontifical15 maledictions. But if God was just, and violence was offensive to him, he would be displeased16 with that of his viceregent, and allow his injured people who were not admitted to communion with the latter, to offer up their prayers to himself. The Florentines, therefore, instead of receiving or obeying the interdict17, compelled the priests to perform divine service, assembled a council in Florence of all the Tuscan prelates under their jurisdiction18, and appealed against the injuries suffered from the pontiff to a future general council.
The pope did not neglect to assign reasons in his own justification19, and maintained it was the duty of a pontiff to suppress tyranny, depress the wicked, and exalt20 the good; and that this ought to be done by every available means; but that secular21 princes had no right to detain cardinals23, hang bishops24, murder, mangle25, and drag about the bodies of priests, destroying without distinction the innocent with the guilty.
Notwithstanding these complaints and accusations, the Florentines restored to the pope the cardinal22 whom they had detained, in return for which he immediately assailed26 them with his own forces and those of the king. The two armies, under the command of Alfonso, eldest27 son of Ferrando, and duke of Calabria, who had as his general, Federigo, count of Urbino, entered the Chianti, by permission of the Siennese, who sided with the enemy, occupied Radda with many other fortresses28, and having plundered29 the country, besieged30 the Castellina. The Florentines were greatly alarmed at these attacks, being almost destitute31 of forces, and finding their friends slow to assist; for though the duke sent them aid, the Venetians denied all obligation to support the Florentines in their private quarrels, since the animosities of individuals were not to be defended at the public expense. The Florentines, in order to induce the Venetians to take a more correct view of the case, sent Tommaso Soderini as their ambassador to the senate, and, in the meantime, engaged forces, and appointed Ercole, marquis of Ferrara, to the command of their army. While these preparations were being made, the Castellina was so hard pressed by the enemy, that the inhabitants, despairing of relief, surrendered, after having sustained a siege of forty-two days. The enemy then directed their course toward Arezzo, and encamped before San Savino. The Florentine army being now in order, went to meet them, and having approached within three miles, caused such annoyance32, that Federigo d’Urbino demanded a truce33 for a few days, which was granted, but proved so disadvantageous to the Florentines, that those who had made the request were astonished at having obtained it; for, had it been refused, they would have been compelled to retire in disgrace. Having gained these few days to recruit themselves, as soon as they were expired, they took the castle in the presence of their enemies. Winter being now come, the forces of the pope and king retired35 for convenient quarters to the Siennese territory. The Florentines also withdrew to a more commodious36 situation, and the marquis of Ferrara, having done little for himself and less for others, returned to his own territories.
At this time, Genoa withdrew from the dominion37 of Milan, under the following circumstances. Galeazzo, at his death, left a son, Giovan Galeazzo, who being too young to undertake the government, dissensions arose between Sforza, Lodovico, Ottaviano, and Ascanio, his uncles, and the lady Bona, his mother, each of whom desired the guardianship38 of the young duke. By the advice and mediation39 of Tommaso Soderini, who was then Florentine ambassador at the court of Milan, and of Cecco Simonetta, who had been secretary to Galeazzo, the lady Bona prevailed. The uncles fled, Ottaviano was drowned in crossing the Adda; the rest were banished40 to various places, together with Roberto da San Severino, who in these disputes had deserted41 the duchess and joined the uncles of the duke. The troubles in Tuscany, which immediately followed, gave these princes hope that the new state of things would present opportunities for their advantage; they therefore quitted the places to which their exile limited them, and each endeavored to return home. King Ferrando, finding the Florentines had obtained assistance from none but the Milanese, took occasion to give the duchess so much occupation in her own government, as to render her unable to contribute to their assistance. By means of Prospero Adorno, the Signor Roberto, and the rebellious42 uncles of the duke, he caused Genoa to throw off the Milanese yoke43. The Castelletto was the only place left; confiding44 in which, the duchess sent a strong force to recover the city, but it was routed by the enemy; and perceiving the danger which might arise to her son and herself if the war were continued, Tuscany being in confusion, and the Florentines, in whom alone she had hope, themselves in trouble, she determined45, as she could not retain Genoa in subjection, to secure it as an ally; and agreed with Battistino Fregoso, the enemy of Prospero Adorno, to give him the Castelletto, and make him prince of Genoa, on condition that he should expel Prospero, and do nothing in favor of her son’s uncles. Upon this agreement, Battistino, by the assistance of the Castelletto and of his friends, became lord of Genoa; and according to the custom of the city, took the title of Doge. The Sforzeschi and the Signor Roberto, being thus expelled by the Genoese, came with their forces into Lunigiana, and the pope and the king, perceiving the troubles of Lombardy to be composed, took occasion with them to annoy Tuscany in the Pisan territory, that the Florentines might be weakened by dividing their forces. At the close of winter they ordered Roberto da San Severino to leave Lunigiana and march thither46, which he did, and with great tumult47 plundered many fortresses, and overran the country around Pisa.
At this time, ambassadors came to Florence from the emperor, the king of France, and the king of Hungary, who were sent by their princes to the pontiff. They solicited48 the Florentines also to send ambassadors to the pope, and promised to use their utmost exertion49 to obtain for them an advantageous34 peace. The Florentines did not refuse to make trial, both for the sake of publicly justifying50 their proceedings52, and because they were really desirous of peace. Accordingly, the ambassadors were sent, but returned without coming to any conclusion of their differences. The Florentines, to avail themselves of the influence of the king of France, since they were attacked by one part of the Italians and abandoned by the other, sent to him as their ambassador, Donato Acciajuoli, a distinguished53 Latin and Greek scholar, whose ancestors had always ranked high in the city, but while on his journey he died at Milan. To relieve his surviving family and pay a deserved tribute to his memory, he was honorably buried at the public expense, provision was made for his sons, and suitable marriage portions given to his daughters, and Guid’ Antonio Vespucci, a man well acquainted with pontifical and imperial affairs, was sent as ambassador to the king in his stead.
The attack of Signor Roberto upon the Pisan territory, being unexpected, greatly perplexed54 the Florentines; for having to resist the foe55 in the direction of Sienna, they knew not how to provide for the places about Pisa. To keep the Lucchese faithful, and prevent them from furnishing the enemy either with money or provisions, they sent as ambassador Piero di Gino Capponi, who was received with so much jealousy56, on account of the hatred57 which that city always cherishes against the Florentines from former injuries and constant fear, that he was on many occasions in danger of being put to death by the mob; and thus his mission gave fresh cause of animosity rather than of union. The Florentines recalled the marquis of Ferrara, and engaged the marquis of Mantua; they also as earnestly requested the Venetians to send them Count Carlo, son of Braccio, and Deifobo, son of Count Jacopo, and after many delays, they complied; for having made a truce with the Turks, they had no excuse to justify51 a refusal, and could not break through the obligation of the League without the utmost disgrace. The counts, Carlo and Deifobo, came with a good force, and being joined by all that could be spared from the army, which, under the marquis of Ferrara, held in check the duke of Calabria, proceeded toward Pisa, to meet Signor Roberto, who was with his troops near the river Serchio, and who, though he had expressed his intention of awaiting their arrival, withdrew to the camp at Lunigiana, which he had quitted upon coming into the Pisan territory, while Count Carlo recovered all the places that had been taken by the enemy in that district.
The Florentines, being thus relieved from the attack in the direction of Pisa, assembled the whole force between Colle and Santo Geminiano. But the army, on the arrival of Count Carlo, being composed of Sforzeschi and Bracceschi, their hereditary58 feuds59 soon broke forth60, and it was thought that if they remained long in company, they would turn their arms against each other. It was therefore determined, as the smaller evil, to divide them; to send one party, under Count Carlo, into the district of Perugia, and establish the other at Poggibonzi, where they formed a strong encampment in order to prevent the enemy from penetrating61 the Florentine territory. By this they also hoped to compel the enemy to divide their forces; for Count Carlo was understood to have many partisans62 in Perugia, and it was therefore expected, either that he would occupy the place, or that the pope would be compelled to send a large body of men for its defense63. To reduce the pontiff to greater necessity, they ordered Niccolo Vitelli, who had been expelled from Citta di Castello, where his enemy Lorenzo Vitelli commanded, to lead a force against that place, with the view of driving out his adversary64 and withdrawing it from obedience65 to the pope. At the beginning of the campaign, fortune seemed to favor the Florentines; for Count Carlo made rapid advances in the Perugino, and Niccolo Vitelli, though unable to enter Castello, was superior in the field, and plundered the surrounding country without opposition66. The forces also, at Poggibonzi, constantly overran the country up to the walls of Sienna. These hopes, however, were not realized; for in the first place, Count Carlo died, while in the fullest tide of success; though the consequences of this would have been less detrimental67 to the Florentines, had not the victory to which it gave occasion, been nullified by the misconduct of others. The death of the count being known, the forces of the church, which had already assembled in Perugia, conceived hopes of overcoming the Florentines, and encamped upon the lake, within three miles of the enemy. On the other side, Jacopo Guicciardini, commissary to the army, by the advice of Roberto da Rimino, who, after the death of Count Carlo, was the principal commander, knowing the ground of their sanguine68 expectations, determined to meet them, and coming to an engagement near the lake, upon the site of the memorable69 rout4 of the Romans, by Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, the papal forces were vanquished70. The news of the victory, which did great honor to the commanders, diffused71 universal joy at Florence, and would have ensured a favorable termination of the campaign, had not the disorders72 which arose in the army at Poggibonzi thrown all into confusion; for the advantage obtained by the valor73 of the one, was more than counterbalanced by the disgraceful proceedings of the other. Having made considerable booty in the Siennese territory, quarrels arose about the division of it between the marquis of Mantua and the marquis of Ferrara, who, coming to arms, assailed each other with the utmost fury; and the Florentines seeing they could no longer avail themselves of the services of both, allowed the marquis of Ferrara and his men to return home.
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1
disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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impiety
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| n.不敬；不孝 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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pontifical
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| adj.自以为是的，武断的 | |
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displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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interdict
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| v.限制；禁止；n.正式禁止；禁令 | |
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jurisdiction
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| n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权 | |
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justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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exalt
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| v.赞扬，歌颂，晋升，提升 | |
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secular
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| n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的 | |
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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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cardinals
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| 红衣主教( cardinal的名词复数 )； 红衣凤头鸟（见于北美，雄鸟为鲜红色）； 基数 | |
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bishops
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| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
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mangle
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| vt.乱砍，撕裂，破坏，毁损，损坏，轧布 | |
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assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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fortresses
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| 堡垒，要塞( fortress的名词复数 ) | |
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plundered
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| 掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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commodious
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| adj.宽敞的；使用方便的 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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guardianship
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| n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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mediation
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| n.调解 | |
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40
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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44
confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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45
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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solicited
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| v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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49
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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50
justifying
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| 证明…有理( justify的现在分词 )； 为…辩护； 对…作出解释； 为…辩解（或辩护） | |
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51
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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52
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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53
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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partisans
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| 游击队员( partisan的名词复数 )； 党人； 党羽； 帮伙 | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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detrimental
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| adj.损害的，造成伤害的 | |
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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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disorders
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| n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调 | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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