which, though the king did not appear, he engaged to concur in whatever
course the duke should adopt. The conference lasted several days, and
after many debates, resolved on either a truce for five years, or a
permanent peace, whichsoever the duke should approve; and the ducal
ambassadors, having returned to Milan to learn his decision, found him
dead. Notwithstanding this, the Milanese were disposed to adopt the
resolutions of the assembly, but the Venetians refused, indulging
great hopes of becoming masters of Lombardy, particularly as Lodi and
Piacenza, immediately after the duke's death, had submitted to them.
They trusted that either by force or by treaty they could strip Milan
of her power; and then so press her, as to compel her also to surrender
before any assistance could arrive; and they were the more confident of
this from seeing the Florentines involved in war with King Alfonso.

The king being at Tivoli, and designing to pursue his enterprise against
Tuscany, as had been arranged between himself and Filippo, judging
that the war now commenced in Lombardy would give him both time and
opportunity, and wishing to have a footing in the Florentine state
before he openly commenced hostilities, opened a secret understanding
with the fortress of Cennina, in the Val d'Arno Superiore, and took
possession of it. The Florentines, surprised with this unexpected event,
perceiving the king already in action, and resolved to do them all
the injury in his power, hired forces, created a council of ten for
management of the war, and prepared for the conflict in their usual
manner. The king was already in the Siennese, and used his utmost
endeavors to reduce the city, but the inhabitants of Sienna were firm in
their attachment to the Florentines, and refused to receive him within
their walls or into any of their territories. They furnished him with
provisions, alleging in excuse, the enemy's power and their inability
to resist. The king, finding he could not enter by the Val d'Arno, as he