taking arms encouraged his
followers, assembled a few friends, attacked and routed part of the
rebels, slew many more, and drove the remainder out of the city. By this
act of bravery all agreed he had fully proved himself a genuine scion of
the house of the Bentivogli.

These events and demonstrations gave the Florentines an earnest of
approaching war; they consequently followed their usual practice on
similar occasions, and created the Council of Ten. They engaged new
condottieri, sent ambassadors to Rome, Naples, Venice, Milan, and
Sienna, to demand assistance from their friends, gain information about
those they suspected, decide such as were wavering, and discover the
designs of the foe. From the pope they obtained only general expressions
of an amicable disposition and admonitions to peace; from the king,
empty excuses for having expelled the Florentines, and offers of safe
conduct for whoever should demand it; and although he endeavored, as
much as possible, to conceal every indication of his hostile designs,
the ambassadors felt convinced of his unfriendly disposition, and
observed many preparations tending to the injury of the republic. The
League with the duke was strengthened by mutual obligations, and through
his means they became friends with the Genoese, the old differences with
them respecting reprisals, and other small matters of dispute, being
composed, although the Venetians used every possible means to prevent
it, and entreated the emperor of Constantinople to expel all Florentines
from his dominions; so fierce was the animosity with which they entered
on this war, and so powerful their lust of dominion, that without the
least hesitation they sought the destruction of those who had been the
occasion of their own power. The emperor, however, refused to listen to
them. The Venetian senate forbade the Florentine ambassadors to enter
their territories, alleging, that being in league with the king, they
could not entertain them without his concurrence. The Siennese received
the ambassadors with fair words, fearing their own ruin before the
League could assist them, and therefore endeavored to appease the powers
whose attack they were unable to resist. The Venetians and the king (as
was then conjectured) were disposed to send ambassadors to Florence to
justify the war. But the Venetian envoy was not allowed to enter the
Florentine dominions, and the king's ambassador, being unwilling to
perform his office a