CHAPTER VII

Brescia relieved by Sforza--His other victories--Piccinino is
recalled into Lombardy--He endeavors to bring the Florentines to an
engagement--He is routed before Anghiari--Serious disorders in the
camp of the Florentines after the victory--Death of Rinaldo degli
Albizzi--His character--Neri Capponi goes to recover the Casentino--The
Count di Poppi surrenders--His discourse upon quitting his possessions.

While these events were taking place in Tuscany, so little to the
advantage of the duke, his affairs in Lombardy were in a still worse
condition. The Count Francesco, as soon as the season would permit, took
the field with his army, and the Venetians having again covered the lake
with their galleys, he determined first of all to drive the duke from
the water; judging, that this once effected, his remaining task would be
easy. He therefore, with the Venetian fleet, attacked that of the duke,
and destroyed it. His land forces took the castles held for Filippo,
and the ducal troops who were besieging Brescia, being informed of
these transactions, withdrew; and thus, the city, after standing a three
years' siege, was at length relieved. The count then went in quest
of the enemy, whose forces were encamped before Soncino, a fortress
situated upon the River Oglio; these he dislodged and compelled to
retreat to Cremona, where the duke again collected his forces, and
prepared for his defense. But the count constantly pressing him more
closely, he became apprehensive of losing either the whole, or the
greater part, of his territories; and perceiving the unfortunate step
he had taken, in sending Niccolo into Tuscany, in order to correct his
error, he wrote to acquaint him with what had transpired, desiring him,
with all possible dispatch, to leave Tuscany and return to Lombardy.