y a sure
remuneration, he desired the duke to concede to him the city of
Piacenza, that when weary with his lengthened services he might at
last betake himself to repose. Nor did he hesitate, in conclusion, to
threaten, if his request were not granted, to abandon the enterprise.
This injurious and most insolent mode of proceeding highly offended the
duke, and, on further consideration, he determined rather to let the
expedition altogether fail, than consent to his general's demand. Thus,
what all the dangers he had incurred, and the threats of his enemies,
could not draw from him, the insolent behavior of his friends made him
willing to propose. He resolved to come to terms with the count,
and sent Antonio Guido Buono, of Tortona, to offer his daughter and
conditions of peace, which were accepted with great pleasure by the
count, and also by the colleagues as far as themselves were concerned.
The terms being secretly arranged, the duke sent to command Niccolo
to make a truce with the count for one year; intimating, that being
exhausted with the expense, he could not forego a certain peace for a
doubtful victory. Niccolo was utterly astonished at this resolution,
and could not imagine what had induced the duke to lose such a glorious
opportunity; nor could he surmise that, to avoid rewarding his friends,
he would save his enemies, and therefore to the utmost of his power he
opposed this resolution; and the duke was obliged, in order to induce
his compliance, to threaten that if he did not obey he would give him up
to his soldiers and his enemies. Niccolo submitted, with the feelings
of one compelled to leave country and friends, complaining of his hard
fate, that fortune and the duke were robbing him of the victory over his
enemies. The truce being arranged, the marriage of the duke's daughter,
Bianca, to the count was solemnized, the duke giving Cremona for her
portion. This being over, peace was concluded in November, 1441,
at which Francesco Barbadico and Pagolo Trono were present for the
Venetians, and for the Florentines Agnolo Acciajuoli. Peschiera, Asola,
and Lonato, castles in the Mantuan territory, were assigned to the
Venetians.

The war in Lombardy was concluded; but the dissensions in the kingdom
of Naples continued, and the inability to compose them occasioned the
resumption of those arms which had been so recently laid aside. Alfonso,
of Aragon, had, during these wars, taken from Rene the whole kingdom
exc