Enclosed is a mandate from the Lord of Faenza. He has talked to me and displays great faith in you, nevertheless I see he is much alarmed, and suspicious of that prince [Duke of Milan?]. A Venetian ambassador is at Faenza with 200 soldiers as a guard. I had the same suspicion, and suspected others as well, as I have told you before, and now it is increased by what has happened at Rimini. Although Pesaro has always followed our lead, yet suspicions and State jealousies have great influence on men’s minds. We must carefully consider what security can be given to pacify them, particularly as lies are told about everything as one knows is always the case in such important affairs. Your dealings with H.M. the King about the restitution of Sarzana is much commended. If it can be obtained before peace is concluded, for every one here had lost all hope and even doubted that peace would be made, you would gain much honour and all would be attributed to you. Here everything goes on as when you left, there is still some ill-humour, but it is I think a good sign that it is less apparent than when you were here. Your reputation seems to have increased and if all ends as we desire and you give us hopes--_nihil supra_. I commend myself to you.--From the Palace [Florence], January 12, 1479 (1480). News has reached here written from there [Naples] to private individuals in Rome, by, I have been told, persons in your suite, _sunt pleni rimarum_ written by them in Naples. If you think this matters admonish them, but without mentioning me, for as you know we live in glass houses.[275] Bartolommeo Scala, _Secretary of the Florentine Republic, to_ Lorenzo de’ Medici _at Naples_