to show that
the cause assigned for their inaction was the true one, pressed the
enemy more closely, so that they came to a regular engagement, which
continued half a day, without either party yielding. Some horses were
wounded and prisoners taken, but no death occurred. Winter having
arrived, and with it the usual time for armies to retire into quarters,
Bartolommeo Coglione withdrew to Ravenna, the Florentine forces into
Tuscany, and those of the king and duke, each to the territories of
their sovereign. As this attempt had not occasioned any tumult in
Florence, contrary to the rebels' expectation, and the troops they had
hired were in want of pay, terms of peace were proposed, and easily
arranged. The revolted Florentines, thus deprived of hope, dispersed
themselves in various places. Diotisalvi Neroni withdrew to Ferrara,
where he was received and entertained by the Marquis Borso. Niccolo
Soderini went to Ravenna, where, upon a small pension allowed by the
Venetians, he grew old and died. He was considered a just and brave man,
but over-cautious and slow to determine, a circumstance which occasioned
him, when Gonfalonier of Justice, to lose the opportunity of victory
which he would have gladly recovered when too late.

Upon the restoration of peace, those who remained victorious in
Florence, as if unable to convince themselves they had conquered, unless
they oppressed not merely their enemies, but all whom they suspected,
prevailed upon Bardo Altoviti, then Gonfalonier of Justice, to deprive
many of the honors of government, and to banish several more. They
exercised their power so inconsiderately, and conducted themselves in
such an arbitrary manner, that it seemed as if fortune and the Almighty
had given the city up to them for a prey. Piero knew little of these
things, and was unable to remedy even the little he knew, on account
of his infirmities; his body being so contracted that he could use no
faculty but that of speech. All he could do was to admonish the leading
men, and beg they would conduct themselves with greater moderation, and
not by their violence effect their country's ruin. In order to divert
the city, he resolved to celebrate the marriage of his son Lorenzo
with Clarice degli Orsini with great splendor; and it was accordingly
solemnized with all the display suitable to the exalted rank of the
parties. Feasts, dancing, and antique representations occupied many
days; at the conclusion of which, to