of conversation, on to the bridge, gave a signal to his men, who
immediately raised it, and in a moment the cardinal, from being a
commander of armies, found himself a prisoner of the castellan. The
patriarch's followers at first began to use threats, but being informed
of the pope's directions they were appeased. The castellan comforting
him with kind words, he replied, that "the great do not make each other
prisoners to let them go again; and that those whom it is proper to
take, it is not well to set free." He shortly afterward died in prison.
The pope appointed Lodovico, patriarch of Aquileia, to command his
troops; and, though previously unwilling to interfere in the wars of
the league and the duke, he was now content to take part in them, and
engaged to furnish four thousand horse and two thousand foot for the
defense of Tuscany.

The Florentines, freed from this cause for anxiety, were still
apprehensive of Niccolo, and feared confusion in the affairs of
Lombardy, from the differences of opinion that existed between the count
and the Venetians. In order the better to become acquainted with the
intentions of the parties, they sent Neri di Gini Capponi and Giuliano
Davanzati to Venice, with instructions to assist in the arrangement of
the approaching campaign; and ordered that Neri, having discovered how
the Venetians were disposed, should proceed to the count, learn
his designs, and induce him to adopt the course that would be most
advantageous to the League. The ambassadors had only reached Ferrara,
when they were told that Niccolo Piccinino had crossed the Po with six
thousand horse. This made them travel with increased speed; and, having
arrived at Venice, they found the Signory fully resolved that Brescia
should be relieved without waiting for the return of spring; for they
said that "the city would be unable to hold out so long, the fleet could
not be in readiness, and that seeing no more immediate relief, she would