ng for the return of spring; for they
said that "the city would be unable to hold out so long, the fleet could
not be in readiness, and that seeing no more immediate relief, she would
submit to the enemy; which would render the duke universally victorious,
and cause them to lose the whole of their inland possessions." Neri then
proceeded to Verona to ascertain the count's opinion, who argued, for
many reasons, that to march to Brescia before the return of spring would
be quite useless, or even worse; for the situation of Brescia, being
considered in conjunction with the season, nothing could be expected to
result but disorder and fruitless toil to the troops; so that, when the
suitable period should arrive, he would be compelled to return to Verona
with his army, to recover from the injuries sustained in the winter, and
provide necessaries for the summer; and thus the time available for the
war would be wasted in marching and countermarching. Orsatto Justiniani
and Giovanni Pisani were deputed on the part of Venice to the count at
Verona, having been sent to consider these affairs, and with them it was
agreed that the Venetians should pay the count ninety thousand ducats
for the coming year, and to each of the soldiers forty ducats; that he
should set out immediately with the whole army and attack the duke, in
order to compel him, for his own preservation, to recall Niccolo into
Lombardy. After this agreement the ambassadors returned to Venice; and
the Venetians, having so large an amount of money to raise, were very
remiss with their commissariat.

In the meantime, Niccolo Piccinino pursued his route, and arrived in
Romagna, where he prevailed upon the sons of Pandolfo Malatesti to
desert the Venetians and enter the duke's service. This circumstance
occasioned much uneasiness in Venice, and still more at Florence;
for they thought that with the aid of the Malatesti they might resist
Niccolo; but finding them gone over to the enemy, they were in fear lest
their captain, Piero Giampagolo Orsini, who was in the territories of
the Malatesti, should be disarmed and rendered powerless. The count also
felt alarmed, for, through Niccolo's presence in Tuscany, he was
afraid of losing La Marca; and, urged by a desire to look after his
own affairs, he hastened to Venice, and being introduced to the Doge,
informed him that the interests of the League required his presence in
Tuscany; for the war ought to be carried on where the lea