so extensively, that all who possessed villas fled
to them to escape death. This occasioned the
defeat to be attended with greater horror; for those
citizens whose possessions lay in the Val di Pesa
and the Val d’Elsa, having retired to them,
hastened to Florence with all speed as soon as they
heard of the disaster, taking with them not only their
children and their property, but even their laborers;
so that it seemed as if the enemy were expected every
moment in the city. Those who were appointed to
the management of the war, perceiving the universal
consternation, commanded the victorious forces in
the Perugino to give up their enterprise in that direction,
and march to oppose the enemy in the Val d’Elsa,
who, after their victory, plundered the country without
opposition; and although the Florentine army had so
closely pressed the city of Perugia that it was expected
to fall into their hands every instant, the people
preferred defending their own possessions to endeavoring
to seize those of others. The troops, thus withdrawn
from the pursuit of their good fortune, were marched
to San Casciano, a castle within eight miles of Florence;
the leaders thinking they could take up no other position
till the relics of the routed army were assembled.
On the other hand, the enemy being under no further
restraint at Perugia, and emboldened by the departure
of the Florentines, plundered to a large amount in
the districts of Arezzo and Cortona; while those who
under Alfonso, duke of Calabria, had been victorious
near Poggibonzi, took the town itself; sacked Vico
and Certaldo, and after these conquests and pillagings
encamped before the fortress of Colle, which was considered
very strong; and as the garrison was brave and faithful
to the Florentines, it was hoped they would hold the
enemy at bay till the republic was able to collect
its forces. The Florentines being at Santo Casciano,
and the enemy continuing to use their utmost exertions
against Colle, they determined to draw nearer, that
the inhabitants might be more resolute in their defense,
and the enemy assail them less boldly. With this
design they removed their camp from Santo Casciano
to Santo Geminiano, about five miles from Colle, and
with light cavalry and other suitable forces were
able every day to annoy the duke’s camp.
All this, however, was insufficient to relieve the
people of Colle; for, having consumed their provisions,
they were compelled to surrender on the thirteenth
of November, to the great grief of the Florentines,
and joy of the enemy, more especially of the Siennese,
who, besides their habitual hatred of the Florentines,
had a particular animosity against the people of Colle.