Life and times of Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan Volume 2 ; with a preliminary sketch of the history of Italy - Softcover

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 Excerpt: ...engagement, they said they knew not what he meant, and seized his person. The Sfortian cavalry, seeing what had happened, without awaiting the orders of their generals, galloped forward to attack those whom they had expected to join them. In their first encounter they were completely successful. But, unfortunately, they continued to follow their foe till they became entangled with the main body of Piccinino's army; and when they were disordered in the pursuit, and laden with spoil, they were in their turn attacked and defeated. The advantage gained in this casual encounter was represented by Piccinino and his friends as a complete victory gained in a general action, and was celebrated as such at Milan by illuminations and triumphal processions. And Piccinino, with a view of turning the impression so caused to the best possible advantage, had it signified to the inhabitants of the towns and the garrisons of the castles that he had completely routed Chap. VIL SFOKZi's CRITICAL SITUATION. 171 the enemy, and that their best course would be at once to surrender to hiuo. But the count was not the man to be daunted by such a slight disaster. All the places in the Milanese remained faithful to him; even the owners of the fortresses in the mountainous territory of Briganza, as they were chiefly Ghibellines, and opposed to the democratic party at Milan, were unmoved by the presence of the Venetian army. He himself lost no time in concentrating his forces in the plains adjoining the mountains, so as to attack the latter, should they attempt to proceed to Milan. But his situation was every day becoming more critical. He was placed between two hostile armies, each of which was equal, if not superior, to his in numbers. There was a great want of forage for his horses, an...