ere at Modigliana, and an intense
frost having rendered the ditches of the city passable, he crossed them
during the night, captured the place, and sent Lodovico a prisoner to
Milan. The Florentines finding Imola in the hands of the enemy, and the
war publicly known, sent their forces to Furli and besieged it on all
sides. That the duke's people might not relieve it, they hired Count
Alberigo, who from Zagonara, his own domain, overran the country daily,
up to the gates of Imola. Agnolo della Pergola, finding the strong
position which the Florentines had taken prevented him from relieving
Furli, determined to attempt the capture of Zagonara, thinking they
would not allow that place to be lost, and that in the endeavor to
relieve it they would be compelled to give up their design against
Furli, and come to an engagement under great disadvantage. Thus the
duke's people compelled Alberigo to sue for terms, which he obtained on
condition of giving up Zagonara, if the Florentines did not relieve him
within fifteen days. This misfortune being known in the Florentine camp
and in the city, and all being anxious that the enemy should not obtain
the expected advantage, they enabled him to secure a greater; for
having abandoned the siege of Furli to go to the relief of Zagonara, on
encountering the enemy they were soon routed, not so much by the bravery
of their adversaries as by the severity of the season; for, having
marched many hours through deep mud and heavy rain, they found the enemy
quite fresh, and were therefore easily vanquished. Nevertheless, in
this great defeat, famous throughout all Italy, no death occurred except
those of Lodovico degli Obizi and two of his people, who having fallen
from their horses were drowned in the morass.

CHAPTER II

The Florentines murmur against those who had been advocates of the
war--Rinaldo degli Albizzi encourages the citizens--Measures for the
prosecution of the war--Attempt of the higher classes to deprive the
plebeians of their share in the government--Rinaldo degli Albizzi
addresses an assembly of citizens and advises the restoration of the
_Grandi_--Niccolo da Uzzano wishes to have Giovanni de' Medici on their
side--Giovanni disapproves of the advice of Rinaldo degli Albizzi.

The defeat at Zagonara spread consternation throughout Florence; but
none felt it so severely as the nobility, who had been in favor of the
war; for they perceived their enemies to be inspirited and th