eased at this; for having
recovered their territories and castles, they were no longer in fear of
Alfonso, and on the other hand, they did not wish the duke to obtain any
part of Lombardy but what belonged to him. Rene took his departure,
and send his son John into Italy, according to his promise, who did not
remain in Lombardy, but came direct to Florence, where he was received
with the highest respect.

The king's departure made the duke desirous of peace. The Venetians,
Alfonso, and the Florentines, being all weary of the war, were similarly
disposed; and the pope continued to wish it as much as ever; for during
this year the Turkish emperor, Mohammed, had taken Constantinople and
subdued the whole of Greece. This conquest alarmed the Christians, more
especially the Venetians and the pope, who already began to fancy
the Mohammedans at their doors. The pope therefore begged the Italian
potentates to send ambassadors to himself, with authority to negotiate
a general peace, with which all complied; but when the particular
circumstances of each case came to be considered, many difficulties were
found in the war of effecting it. King Alfonso required the Florentines
to reimburse the expenses he had incurred in the war, and the
Florentines demanded some compensation from him. The Venetians thought
themselves entitled to Cremona from the duke; while he insisted upon the
restoration of Bergamo, Brescia, and Crema; so that it seemed impossible
to reconcile such conflicting claims. But what could not be effected
by a number at Rome was easily managed at Milan and Venice by two;
for while the matter was under discussion at Rome, the duke and the
Venetians came to an arrangement on the ninth of April, 1454, by virtue
of which, each party resumed what they possessed before the war, the
duke being allowed to recover from the princes of Montferrat and Savoy
the places they had taken. To the other Italian powers a month was
allowed to ratify the treaty. The pope and the Florentines, and with
them the Siennese and other minor powers, acceded to it within the time.
Besides this, the Florentines, the Venetians, and the duke concluded
a treaty of peace for twenty-five years. King Alfonso alone exhibited
dissatisfaction at what had taken place, thinking he had not been
sufficiently considered, that he stood, not on the footing of a
principal, but only ranked as an auxiliary, and therefore kept aloof,
and would not disclose his intentions