and would have been more so had he lived in a united city, for many
qualities were injurious to him in a factious community, which in an
harmonious one would have done him honor.

When the forces returned from Arezzo, Niccolo being then gone, the
commissaries presented themselves at the Borgo, the people of which were
willing to submit to the Florentines; but their offer was declined,
and while negotiations were pending, the pope's legate imagined the
commissaries designed to take it from the church. Hard words were
exchanged and hostilities might have ensued between the Florentine
and ecclesiastical forces, if the misunderstanding had continued much
longer; but as it was brought to the conclusion desired by the legate,
peace was restored.

While the affair of the Borgo San Sepolcro was in progress, Niccolo
Piccinino was supposed to have marched toward Rome; other accounts
said La Marca, and hence the legate and the count's forces moved toward
Perugia to relieve La Marca or Rome, as the case might be, and Bernardo
de Medici accompanied them. Neri led the Florentine forces to recover
the Casentino, and pitched his camp before Rassina, which he took,
together with Bibbiena, Prato Vecchio, and Romena. From thence he
proceeded to Poppi and invested it on two sides with his forces, in one
direction toward the plain of Certomondo, in the other upon the hill
extending to Fronzole. The count finding himself abandoned to his fate,
had shut himself up in Poppi, not with any hope of assistance, but with
a view to make the best terms he could. Neri pressing him, he offered
to capitulate, and obtained reasonable conditions, namely, security for
himself and family, with leave to take whatever he could carry away, on
condition of ceding his territories and government to the Florentines.
When he perceived the full extent of his misfortune, standing upon the