before Castel San Niccolo. This fortress is situated at the foot of the
mountains which divide the Casentino from the Val d'Arno; and being in
an elevated situation, and well garrisoned, it was difficult to take,
though Niccolo, with catapults and other engines, assailed it without
intermission. The siege had continued more than twenty days, during
which the Florentines had collected all their forces, having assembled
under several leaders, three thousand horse, at Fegghine, commanded by
Piero Giampagolo Orsini, their captain, and Neri Capponi and Bernardo
de' Medici, commissaries. Four messengers, from Castel San Niccolo, were
sent to them to entreat succor. The commissaries having examined the
site, found it could not be relieved, except from the Alpine regions,
in the direction of the Val d'Arno, the summit of which was more easily
attainable by the enemy than by themselves, on account of their greater
proximity, and because the Florentines could not approach without
observation; so that it would be making a desperate attempt, and might
occasion the destruction of the forces. The commissaries, therefore,
commended their fidelity, and ordered that when they could hold out no
longer, they should surrender. Niccolo took the fortress after a siege
of thirty-two days; and the loss of so much time, for the attainment
of so small an advantage, was the principle cause of the failure of his
expedition; for had he remained with his forces near Florence, he would
have almost deprived the government of all power to compel the citizens
to furnish money: nor would they so easily have assembled forces and
taken other precautions, if the enemy had been close upon them, as
they did while he was at a distance. Besides this, many would have been
disposed to quiet their apprehensions of Niccolo, by concluding a peace;
particularly, as the contest was likely to be of some duration. The
desire of the Count di Poppi to avenge himself on the inhabitants of
San Niccolo, long his enemies, occasioned his advice to Piccinino, who
adopted it for the purpose of pleasing him; and this caused the ruin