“The Emperor differed from me totally as to the benefits of a solitary life.  I told him that I had composed a treatise on the subject.  ’I know that,’ said the Emperor; ’and if I ever find your book, I shall throw it into the fire.’  ‘And,’ I replied, ’I shall take care that it never falls into your hands.’  On this subject we had long and frequent disputes, always seasoned with pleasantry.  I must confess that the Emperor combated my system on a solitary life with surprising energy.”

Petrarch remained eight days with the King of Bohemia, at Mantua, where he was witness to all his negotiations with the Lords of the league of Lombardy, who came to confer with his Imperial Majesty, in that city, or sent thither their ambassadors.  The Emperor, above all things, wished to ascertain the strength of this confederation; how much each principality would contribute, and how much might be the sum total of the whole contribution.  The result of this inquiry was, that the forces of the united confederates were not sufficient to make head against the Visconti, who had thirty thousand well-disciplined men.  The Emperor, therefore, decided that it was absolutely necessary to conclude a peace.  This prince, pacific and without ambition, had, indeed, come into Italy with this intention; and was only anxious to obtain two crowns without drawing a sword.  He saw, therefore, with satisfaction that there was no power in Italy to protract hostilities by strengthening the coalition.

He found difficulties, however, in the settlement of a general peace.  The Viscontis felt their superiority; and the Genoese, proud of a victory which they had obtained over the Venetians, insisted on hard terms.  The Emperor, more intent upon his personal interests than the good of Italy, merely negotiated a truce between the belligerents.  He prevailed upon the confederates to disband the company of Count Lando, which cost much and effected little.  It cannot be doubted that Petrarch had considerable influence in producing this dismissal, as he always held those troops of mercenaries in abhorrence.  The truce being signed, his Imperial Majesty had no further occupation than to negotiate a particular agreement with the Viscontis, who had sent the chief men of Milan, with presents, to conclude a treaty with him.  No one appeared more fit than Petrarch to manage this negotiation, and it was universally expected that it should be entrusted to him; but particular reasons, which Petrarch has not thought proper to record, opposed the desires of the Lords of Milan and the public wishes.

The negotiation, nevertheless, was in itself a very easy one.  The Emperor, on the one hand, had no wish to make war for the sake of being crowned at Monza.  On the other hand, the Viscontis were afraid of seeing the league of their enemies fortified by imperial power.  They took advantage of the desire which they observed in Charles to receive this crown without a struggle.  They promised not to oppose his coronation, and even to give 50,000 florins for the expense of the ceremony; but they required that he should not enter the city of Milan, and that the troops in his suite should be disarmed.