'[In the summer of 1424] The Florentines finding Imola in the hands
of the enemy [Filippo Visconti, the duke of Milan], and the war
publicly known, sent their forces to Furli and besieged it on all
sides. That the duke’s people might not relieve it, they hired Count
Alberigo, who from Zagonara, his own domain, overran the country
daily, up to the gates of Imola.
Agnolo della Pergola [a soldier of fortune in the rank of Capitano,
hired by the duke of Milan], finding the strong position which the
Florentines had taken prevented him from relieving Furli, determined
to attempt the capture of Zagonara, thinking they would not allow
that place to be lost, and that in the endeavor to relieve it they
would be compelled to give up their design against Furli, and come
to an engagement under great disadvantage.
Thus the duke’s people compelled
Alberigo
to sue for terms,
which he obtained on condition of giving up Zagonara, if the
Florentines did not relieve him within fifteen days. This misfortune
being known in the Florentine camp and in the city, and all being
anxious that the enemy should not obtain the expected advantage,
they enabled him to secure a greater; for having abandoned the siege
of Furli to go to the relief of Zagonara, on encountering the enemy
they were soon routed, not so much by the bravery of their
adversaries as by the severity of the season; for, having marched
many hours through deep mud and heavy rain, they found the enemy
quite fresh, and were therefore easily vanquished.
Nevertheless, in this great defeat, famous throughout all Italy, no
death occurred except those of Lodovico degli Obizi and two of his
people, who having fallen from their horses were drowned in the
morass.'