d that this ought to be done by
every available means; but that secular princes had no right to detain
cardinals, hang bishops, murder, mangle, and drag about the bodies of
priests, destroying without distinction the innocent with the guilty.

Notwithstanding these complaints and accusations, the Florentines
restored to the pope the cardinal whom they had detained, in return for
which he immediately assailed them with his own forces and those of
the king. The two armies, under the command of Alfonso, eldest son of
Ferrando, and duke of Calabria, who had as his general, Federigo, count
of Urbino, entered the Chianti, by permission of the Siennese, who sided
with the enemy, occupied Radda with many other fortresses, and having
plundered the country, besieged the Castellina. The Florentines were
greatly alarmed at these attacks, being almost destitute of forces, and
finding their friends slow to assist; for though the duke sent them aid,
the Venetians denied all obligation to support the Florentines in their
private quarrels, since the animosities of individuals were not to be
defended at the public expense. The Florentines, in order to induce the
Venetians to take a more correct view of the case, sent Tommaso Soderini
as their ambassador to the senate, and, in the meantime, engaged forces,
and appointed Ercole, marquis of Ferrara, to the command of their army.
While these preparations were being made, the Castellina was so hard
pressed by the enemy, that the inhabitants, despairing of relief,
surrendered, after having sustained a siege of forty-two days. The
enemy then directed their course toward Arezzo, and encamped before San
Savino. The Florentine army being now in order, went to meet them,
and having approached within three miles, caused such annoyance, that
Federigo d'Urbino demanded a truce for a few days, which was granted,
but proved so disadvantageous to the Florentines, that those who had
made the request were astonished at having obtained it; for, had it been
refused, they would have been compelled to retire in disgrace. Having
gained these few days to recruit themselves, as soon as they were
expired, they took the castle in the presence of their enemies. Winter
being now come, the forces of the pope and king retired for convenient
quarters to the Siennese territory. The Florentines also withdrew to
a more commodious situation, and the marquis of Ferrara, having done
little for himself and less for others, retu