cowardly and the fortress untenable; for as soon as he heard of the
enemy's approach he abandoned the place, fled with all his forces, and
did not stop till he reached the town of San Lorenzo. Niccolo, entering
the deserted fortress, wondered it had not been defended, and, rejoicing
over his acquisition, descended into the valley of the Mugello, where
he took some castles, and halted with his army at Pulicciano. Thence he
overran the country as far as the mountains of Fiesole; and his audacity
so increased that he crossed the Arno, plundering and destroying
everything to within three miles of Florence.

The Florentines, however, were not dismayed. Their first concern was
to give security to the government, for which they had no cause for
apprehension, so universal was the good will of the people toward Cosmo;
and besides this, they had restricted the principal offices to a few
citizens of the highest class, who with their vigilance would have kept
the populace in order, even if they had been discontented or desirous of
change. They also knew by the compact made in Lombardy what forces
Neri would bring with him, and expected the troops of the pope. These
prospects sustained their courage till the arrival of Neri di Gino, who,
on account of the disorders and fears of the city, determined to set out
immediately and check Niccolo. With the cavalry he possessed, and a body
of infantry raised entirely from the people, he recovered Remole from
the hands of the enemy, where having encamped, he put a stop to all
further depredations, and gave the inhabitants hopes of repelling
the enemy from the neighborhood. Niccolo finding that, although the
Florentines were without troops, no disturbance had arisen, and learning
what entire composure prevailed in the city, thought he was wasting
time, and resolved to undertake some other enterprise to induce them to
send forces after him, and give him a chance of coming to an engagement,
by means of which, if victorious, he trusted everything would succeed to
his wishes.

Francesco, Count di Poppi, was in the army of Niccolo, having deserted
the Florentines, with whom he was in league, when the enemy entered the
Mugello; and though with the intention of securing him as soon as they
had an idea of his design, they increased his appointments, and made him
commissary over all the places in his vicinity; still, so powerful is
the attachment to party, that no benefit or fear could eradicate the