were glad to observe, for their greatest fear was, that the duke and the
count should become friends.

The duke's anger caused the renewal of war in La Marca. Gismondo
Malatesti, lord of Rimino, being son-in-law of the count, expected to
obtain Pesaro; but the count, having obtained possession, gave it to
his brother, Alessandro. Gismondo, offended at this, was still further
exasperated at finding that Federigo di Montefeltro, his enemy, by the
count's assistance, gained possession of Urbino. He therefore joined the
duke, and solicited the pope and the king to make war against the count,
who, to give Gismondo a taste of the war he so much desired, resolved to
take the initiative, and attacked him immediately. Thus Romagna and La
Marca were again in complete confusion, for Filippo, the king, and the
pope, sent powerful assistance to Gismondo, while the Florentines and
Venetians supplied the count with money, though not with men. Nor was
Filippo satisfied with the war in Romagna, but also desired to take
Cremona and Pontremoli from the count; but Pontremoli was defended by
the Florentines, and Cremona by the Venetians. Thus the war was renewed
in Lombardy, and after several engagements in the Cremonese, Francesco
Piccinino, the leader of the duke's forces, was routed at Casale, by
Micheletto and the Venetian troops. This victory gave the Venetians hope
of obtaining the duke's dominions. They sent a commissary to Cremona,
attacked the Ghiaradadda, and took the whole of it, except Crema. Then
crossing the Adda, they overran the country as far as Milan. Upon this
the duke had recourse to Alfonso, and entreated his assistance, pointing
out the danger his kingdom would incur if Lombardy were to fall into
the hands of the Venetians. Alfonso promised to send him troops, but
apprised him of the difficulties which would attend their passage,
without the permission of the count.

Filippo, driven to extremity, then had recourse to Francesco, and begged
he would not abandon his father-in-law, now that he had become old and
blind. The count was offended with the duke for making war against him;
but he was jealous of the increasing greatness of the Venetians, and
he himself began to be in want of money, for the League supplied him
sparingly. The Florentines, being no longer in fear of the duke, ceased
to stand in need of the count, and the Venetians desired his ruin; for
they thought Lombardy could not be taken from him except by this