to annoy
Tuscany in the Pisan territory, that the Florentines might be weakened
by dividing their forces. At the close of winter they ordered Roberto
da San Severino to leave Lunigiana and march thither, which he did, and
with great tumult plundered many fortresses, and overran the country
around Pisa.

At this time, ambassadors came to Florence from the emperor, the king of
France, and the king of Hungary, who were sent by their princes to the
pontiff. They solicited the Florentines also to send ambassadors to the
pope, and promised to use their utmost exertion to obtain for them an
advantageous peace. The Florentines did not refuse to make trial, both
for the sake of publicly justifying their proceedings, and because they
were really desirous of peace. Accordingly, the ambassadors were sent,
but returned without coming to any conclusion of their differences. The
Florentines, to avail themselves of the influence of the king of France,
since they were attacked by one part of the Italians and abandoned
by the other, sent to him as their ambassador, Donato Acciajuoli, a
distinguished Latin and Greek scholar, whose ancestors had always ranked
high in the city, but while on his journey he died at Milan. To relieve
his surviving family and pay a deserved tribute to his memory, he was
honorably buried at the public expense, provision was made for his sons,
and suitable marriage portions given to his daughters, and Guid' Antonio
Vespucci, a man well acquainted with pontifical and imperial affairs,
was sent as ambassador to the king in his stead.

The attack of Signor Roberto upon the Pisan territory, being unexpected,
greatly perplexed the Florentines; for having to resist the foe in the
direction of Sienna, they knew not how to provide for the places about
Pisa. To keep the Lucchese faithful, and prevent them from furnishing
the enemy either with money or provisions, they sent as ambassador Piero
di Gino Capponi, who was received with so much jealousy, on account of
the hatred which that city always cherishes against the Florentines
from former injuries and constant fear, that he was on many occasions in
danger of being put to death by the mob; and thus his mission gave fresh
cause of animosity rather than of union. The Florentines recalled the
marquis of Ferrara, and engaged the marquis of Mantua; they also as
earnestly requested the Venetians to send them Count Carlo, son of
Braccio, and Deifobo, son of Count Jacopo, and a