. However, after receiving a legate
from the pope, and many solemn embassies from other powers, he allowed
himself to be persuaded, principally by means of the pontiff, and with
his son joined the League for thirty years. The duke and the king also
contracted a twofold relationship and double marriage, each giving a
daughter to a son of the other. Notwithstanding this, that Italy might
still retain the seeds of war, Alfonso would not consent to the peace,
unless the League would allow him, without injury to themselves, to make
war upon the Genoese, Gismondo Malatesti, and Astorre, prince of Faenza.
This being conceded, his son Ferrando, who was at Sienna, returned to
the kingdom, having by his coming into Tuscany acquired no dominion and
lost a great number of his men.

Upon the establishment of a general peace, the only apprehension
entertained was, that it would be disturbed by the animosity of Alfonso
against the Genoese; yet it happened otherwise. The king, indeed, did
not openly infringe the peace, but it was frequently broken by the
ambition of the mercenary troops. The Venetians, as usual on the
conclusion of a war, had discharged Jacopo Piccinino, who with some
other unemployed condottieri, marched into Romagna, thence into the
Siennese, and halting in the country, took possession of many places.
At the commencement of these disturbances, and the beginning of the year
1455, Pope Nicholas died, and was succeeded by Calixtus III., who, to
put a stop to the war newly broken out so near home, immediately sent
Giovanni Ventimiglia, his general, with what forces he could furnish.
These being joined by the troops of the Florentines and the duke of
Milan, both of whom furnished assistance, attacked Jacopo, near Bolsena,
and though Ventimiglia was taken prisoner, yet Jacopo was worsted, and
retreated in disorder to Castiglione della Pescaia, where, had he
not been assisted by Alfonso, his force would have been completely
annihilated. This made it evident that Jacopo's movement had been
made by order of Alfonso, and the latter, as if palpably detected, to
conciliate his allies, after having almost alienated them with this
unimportant war, ordered Jacopo to restore to the Siennese the places he
had taken, and they gave him twenty thousand florins by way of ransom,
after which he and his forces were received into the kingdom of Naples.

CHAPTER VII

Christendom alarmed by the progress of the Turks--The Turks routed
b