Pagina 276 de 310

It was here that Castruccio had determined to fall upon his

enemy, for here his few men would have the advantage, and there

was no fear lest, seeing the large masses of the hostile force

before they became engaged, they should not stand. As soon as

this trouble with Florence arose, Castruccio saw the immense

advantage which possession of this castle would give him, and

having an intimate friendship with a resident in the castle, he

managed matters so with him that four hundred of his men were to

be admitted into the castle the night before the attack on the

Florentines, and the castellan put to death.