hence
inferior powers are easily deceived by princes. The barons, conscious
of the danger of continuing the war, trusted the king's promises, and
having placed themselves in his hands, they were soon after destroyed
in various ways, and under a variety of pretexts. This alarmed Jacopo
Piccinino, who was with his forces at Sulmona; and to deprive the king
of the opportunity of treating him similarly, he endeavored, by the
mediation of his friends, to be reconciled with the duke, who, by the
most liberal offers, induced Jacopo to visit him at Milan, accompanied
by only a hundred horse.

Jacopo had served many years with his father and brother, first under
Duke Filippo, and afterward under the Milanese republic, so that by
frequent intercourse with the citizens he had acquired many friends and
universal popularity, which present circumstances tended to increase;
for the prosperity and newly acquired power of the Sforzeschi had
occasioned envy, while Jacopo's misfortunes and long absence had given
rise to compassion and a great desire to see him. These various feelings
were displayed upon his arrival; for nearly all the nobility went to
meet him; the streets through which he passed were filled with citizens,
anxious to catch a glimpse of him, while shouts of "The Bracceschi! the
Bracceschi!" resounded on all sides. These honors accelerated his ruin;
for the duke's apprehensions increased his desire of destroying him; and
to effect this with the least possible suspicion, Jacopo's marriage with
Drusiana, the duke's natural daughter, was now celebrated. The duke then
arranged with Ferrando to take him into pay, with the title of captain
of his forces, and give him 100,000 florins for his maintenance. After
this agreement, Jacopo, accompanied by a ducal ambassador and his wife
Drusiana, proceeded to Naples, where he was honorably and joyfully
received, and for many days entertained with every kind of festivity;
but having asked permission to go to Sulmona, where his forces were, the
king invited him to a banquet in the castle, at the conclusion of which
he and his son Francesco were imprisoned, and shortly afterward put to
death. It was thus our Italian princes, fearing those virtues in others
which they themselves did not possess, extirpated them; and hence the
country became a prey to the efforts of those by whom it was not long
afterward oppressed and ruined.

At this time, Pope Pius II. having settled the affairs of Romag