The count's successes--The Venetians come to terms with him--Views of
the Venetians--Indignation of the Milanese against the count--Their
ambassador's address to him--The count's moderation and reply--The count
and the Milanese prepare for war--Milanese ambassadors at Venice--League
of the Venetians and Milanese--The count dupes the Venetians and
Milanese--He applies for assistance to the Florentines--Diversity of
opinions in Florence on the subject--Neri di Gino Capponi averse to
assisting the count--Cosmo de' Medici disposed to do so--The Florentines
sent ambassadors to the count.

After this victory, the count marched into the Brescian territory,
occupied the whole country, and then pitched his camp within two miles
of the city. The Venetians, having well-grounded fears that Brescia
would be next attacked, provided the best defense in their power. They
then collected the relics of their army, and, by virtue of the treaty,
demanded assistance of the Florentines; who, being relieved from the
war with Alfonso, sent them one thousand foot and two thousand horse, by
whose aid the Venetians were in a condition to treat for peace. At one
time it seemed the fate of their republic to lose by war and win by
negotiation; for what was taken from them in battle was frequently
restored twofold on the restoration of peace. They knew the Milanese
were jealous of the count, and that he wished to be not their captain
merely, but their sovereign; and as it was in their power to make peace
with either of the two (the one desiring it from ambition, the other
from fear), they determined to make choice of the count, and offer him
assistance to effect his design; persuading themselves, that as the
Milanese would perceive they had been duped by him, they would in
revenge place themselves in the power of any one rather than in his; and
that, becoming unable either to defend themselves or trust the count,
they would be compelled, having no other resource, to fall into their