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But the Florentines, from hatred, for sundry reasons, of the

Vitelli and Orsini, not only would not ally themselves, but sent

Nicolo Machiavelli, their secretary, to offer shelter and

assistance to the duke against his enemies. The duke was found

full of fear at Imola, because, against everybody's expectation,

his soldiers had at once gone over to the enemy and he found

himself disarmed and war at his door. But recovering courage from

the offers of the Florentines, he decided to temporize before

fighting with the few soldiers that remained to him, and to

negotiate for a reconciliation, and also to get assistance. This

latter he obtained in two ways, by sending to the King of France

for men and by enlisting men-at-arms and others whom he turned

into cavalry of a sort: to all he gave money.