Pagina 277 di 310

Castruccio, having prepared everything, had now to encourage the

Florentines to persist in their desire to carry the seat of war

away from Pistoia into the Val di Nievole, therefore he did not

move his army from Montecarlo. Thus the Florentines hurried on

until they reached their encampment under Serravalle, intending

to cross the hill on the following morning. In the meantime,

Castruccio had seized the castle at night, had also moved his

army from Montecarlo, and marching from thence at midnight in

dead silence, had reached the foot of Serravalle: thus he and the

Florentines commenced the ascent of the hill at the same time in

the morning. Castruccio sent forward his infantry by the main

road, and a troop of four hundred horsemen by a path on the left

towards the castle. The Florentines sent forward four hundred

cavalry ahead of their army which was following, never expecting

to find Castruccio in possession of the hill, nor were they aware

of his having seized the castle.