DuringthistimetheFlorentines, whoweremuchenragedthatCastruccioshouldhaveseizedPistoiaduringthetruce, consideredhowtheycouldtemptthecitytorebel, , , andwiththeaidoftheFlorentinesenteredthecitybynight, andafterdrivingoutsomeofCastruccio'sofficialsandpartisans, andkillingothers, , andtakingleaveofEnrico, , knowingthathewouldlosenotime, theydecidedtointercepthimwiththeirforcesintheValdiNievole, , , CastruccioreachedMontecarlowithhisarmy; andhavingheardwheretheFlorentines' lay, hedecidednottoencounteritintheplainsofPistoia, nortoawaititintheplainsofPescia, but, asfarashepossiblycould, , victorywasassured, althoughhewasinformedthattheFlorentineshadthirtythousandmen, , , situatedonahillwhichblockstheValdiNievole, notintheexactpass, butaboutabowshotbeyond; thepassitselfisinplacesnarrowandsteep, whilstingeneralitascendsgently, butisstillnarrow, especiallyatthesummitwherethewatersdivide, , aGerman, who, beforeCastrucciobecamelordofPistoia, hadbeenallowedtoremaininpossessionofthecastle, itbeingcommontotheLuccheseandthePistoians, andunclaimedbyeither—neitherofthemwishingtodisplaceManfredaslongashekepthispromiseofneutrality, , andalsobecausethecastlewaswellfortified, , forherehisfewmenwouldhavetheadvantage, andtherewasnofearlest, seeingthelargemassesofthehostileforcebeforetheybecameengaged, , Castrucciosawtheimmenseadvantagewhichpossessionofthiscastlewouldgivehim, andhavinganintimatefriendshipwitharesidentinthecastle, hemanagedmatterssowithhimthatfourhundredofhismenweretobeadmittedintothecastlethenightbeforetheattackontheFlorentines, andthecastellanputtodeath.
