ht be expected of him,
he only sought the union of the city. This, however, gave offense to
many of his party; for they would have rather seen him exhibit greater
activity. Among others so disposed, was Alamanno de' Medici, who being
of a restless disposition, never ceased exciting him to persecute
enemies and favor friends; condemning his coldness and slow method
of proceeding, which he said was the cause of his enemies' practicing
against him, and that these practices would one day effect the ruin of
himself and his friends. He endeavored to excite Cosmo, his son, with
similar discourses; but Giovanni, for all that was either disclosed or
foretold him, remained unmoved, although parties were now declared, and
the city in manifest disunion.

There were at the palace, in the service of the Signory, two
chancellors, Ser Martino and Ser Pagolo. The latter favored the party
of Niccolo da Uzzano, the former that of Giovanni; and Rinaldo, seeing
Giovanni unwilling to join them, thought it would be advisable to
deprive Ser Martino of his office, that he might have the palace
more completely under his control. The design becoming known to his
adversaries, Ser Martino was retained and Ser Pagolo discharged, to the
great injury and displeasure of Rinaldo and his party. This circumstance
would soon have produced most mischievous effects, but for the war
with which the city was threatened, and the recent defeat suffered at
Zagonara, which served to check the audacity of the people; for while
these events were in progress at Florence, Agnolo della Pergola, with
the forces of the duke, had taken all the towns and cities possessed
by the Florentines in Romagna, except Castracaro and Modigliano; partly
from the weakness of the places themselves, and partly by the misconduct
of those who had the command of them. In the course of the campaign, two
instances occurred which served to show how greatly courage is admired
even in enemies, and how much cowardice and pusillanimity are despised.

Biaggio del Melano was castellan in the fortress of Monte Petroso. Being
surrounded by enemies, and seeing no chance of saving the place, which
was already in flames, he cast clothes and straw from a part which was
not yet on fire, and upon these he threw his two little children, saying
to the enemy, "Take to yourselves those goods which fortune has bestowed
upon me, and of which you may deprive me; but those of the mind, in
which my honor and glory c