long have the opportunity, since it was the intention of
Pagolo to surrender the city to the Florentines, who were very anxious
to obtain it. The duke was so much alarmed with this idea, that, setting
aside all other considerations, he caused Count Francesco Sforza, who
was engaged in his service, to make a public request for permission
to go to Naples; and having obtained it, he proceeded with his forces
directly to Lucca, though the Florentines, aware of the deception,
and apprehensive of the consequences, had sent to the count, Boccacino
Alamanni, his friend, to frustrate this arrangement. Upon the arrival
of the count at Lucca, the Florentines removed their camp to Librafatta,
and the count proceeded immediately to Pescia, where Pagolo Diacceto
was lieutenant governor, who, promoted by fear rather than any better
motive, fled to Pistoia, and if the place had not been defended by
Giovanni Malavolti, to whom the command was intrusted, it would have
been lost. The count failing in his attempt went to Borgo a Buggiano
which he took, and burned the castle of Stigliano, in the same
neighborhood.

The Florentines being informed of these disasters, found they must have
recourse to those remedies which upon former occasions had often
proved useful. Knowing that with mercenary soldiers, when force is
insufficient, corruption commonly prevails, they offered the count a
large sum of money on condition that he should quit the city, and give
it up to them. The count finding that no more money was to be had from
Lucca, resolved to take it of those who had it to dispense, and agreed
with the Florentines, not to give them Lucca, which for decency he could
not consent to, but to withdraw his troops, and abandon it, on condition
of receiving fifty thousand ducats; and having made this agreement, to
induce the Lucchese to excuse him to the duke, he consented that they
should expel their tyrant.

Antonio del Rosso, as we remarked above, was Siennese ambassador at
Lucca, and with the authority of the count he contrived the ruin of
Pagolo Guinigi. The heads of the conspiracy were Pierro Cennami and
Giovanni da Chivizzano. The count resided upon the Serchio, at a short
distance from the city, and with him was Lanzilao, the son of Pagolo.
The conspirators, about forty in number, went armed at night in search
of Pagolo, who, on hearing the noise they made, came toward them quite
astonished, and demanded the cause of their visit; to which Pi