Notes: Caterina Sforza’s son has been serving as a condottiere (a mercenary captain) for Florence. The notoriously cheap Florentine government has sent Machiavelli to get him to renew his contract while conceding as little as possible in return. Caterina, for her part, wants a fair commission, but even more, she desires a formal alliance with Florence. Florence wants no part of such an alliance, as they would be bound to assist her should she be attacked.
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