he proceeded confidently into the Bolognese territory, thence to Modena
and Reggio, halted with his forces upon the Lenza, and sent to offer his
services at Milan. On the death of the duke, part of the Milanese were
inclined to establish a republic; others wished to choose a prince, and
of these, one part favored the count, and another Alfonso. However, the
majority being in favor of freedom, they prevailed over the rest,
and organized a republic, to which many cities of the Duchy refused
obedience; for they, too, desired to live in the enjoyment of their
liberty, and even those who did not embrace such views, refused to
submit to the sovereignty of the Milanese. Lodi and Piacenza surrendered
themselves to the Venetians; Pavia and Parma became free. This confused
state of things being known to the count, he proceeded to Cremona, where
his ambassadors and those of the Milanese arranged for him to command
the forces of the new republic, with the same remuneration he had
received from the duke at the time of his decease. To this they added
the possession of Brescia, until Verona was recovered, when he should
have that city and restore Brescia to the Milanese.

Before the duke's death, Pope Nicholas, after his assumption of the
pontificate, sought to restore peace among the princes of Italy, and
with this object endeavored, in conjunction with the ambassadors sent by
the Florentines to congratulate him on his accession, to appoint a diet
at Ferrara to attempt either the arrangement of a long truce, or the
establishment of peace. A congress was accordingly held in that city,
of the pope's legate and the Venetian, ducal, and Florentine
representatives. King Alfonso had no envoy there. He was at Tivoli with
a great body of horse and foot, and favorable to the duke; both having
resolved, that having gained the count over to their side, they would
openly attack the Florentines and Venetians, and till the arrival of
the count in Lombardy, take part in the treaty for peace at Ferrara, at