na, and
witnessing a universal peace, thought it a suitable opportunity to lead
the Christians against the Turks, and adopted measures similar to those
which his predecessors had used. All the princes promised assistance
either in men or money; while Matthias, king of Hungary, and Charles,
duke of Burgundy, intimated their intention of joining the enterprise
in person, and were by the pope appointed leaders of the expedition. The
pontiff was so full of expectation, that he left Rome and proceeded
to Ancona, where it had been arranged that the whole army should be
assembled, and the Venetians engaged to send ships thither to convey the
forces to Sclavonia. Upon the arrival of the pope in that city,
there was soon such a concourse of people, that in a few days all
the provisions it contained, or that could be procured from the
neighborhood, were consumed, and famine began to impend. Besides this,
there was no money to provide those who were in want of it, nor arms
to furnish such as were without them. Neither Matthias nor Charles made
their appearance. The Venetians sent a captain with some galleys, but
rather for ostentation and the sake of keeping their word, than for the
purpose of conveying troops. During this position of affairs, the pope,
being old and infirm, died, and the assembled troops returned to their
homes. The death of the pontiff occurred in 1465, and Paul II. of
Venetian origin, was chosen to succeed him; and that nearly all the
principalities of Italy might change their rulers about the same period,
in the following year Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan, also died, having
occupied the dukedom sixteen years, and Galleazzo, his son, succeeded
him.

The death of this prince infused redoubled energy into the Florentine
dissensions, and caused them to produce more prompt effects than they
would otherwise have done. Upon the demise of Cosmo, his son Piero,
being heir to the wealth and government of his father, called to his
assistance Diotisalvi Neroni, a man of great influence and the highest
reputation, in whom Cosmo reposed so much confidence that just before
his death he recommended Piero to be wholly guided by him, both with
regard to the government of the city and the management of his fortune.
Piero acquired Diotisalvi with the opinion Cosmo entertained of him,
and said that as he wished to obey his father, though now no more, as
he always had while alive, he should consult him concerning both his
patri