channell But beeing subiect there to the affliction of certayne double cannons that laye planted vpon the bastillion of the towne they passed the channell and lodged a little further from the towne from whence sending certayne bands of footmen to S. Anthonies Church within halfe a myle of Padoa they began to approch with lesse daunger and to cast trenches neare to S. Anthonies gate but for that the worke was great and the wante of pyoners no lesse and in a countrey abandoned of all inhabitantes the trenches aduaunced little and not without daunger for that the souldiors making many sodain sallies aswell by day as by night gaue great domage and impediment to those that trauelled They suffred besides great want of vittells both for that only a smal part of the towne was inuironed by thenemies also the estradiots that had libertie to issue out of the other quarters of the towne ouerronning freely the whole contrey gaue impedimēt to al that was brought to the camp The traffike of vittels was also hindred by certaine armed barkes which the Venetians had set for that purpose vpon the ryuer of Adice for that the men that they caryed ceassed not to make incursions into the vplande and playne countrey skouring all places and respected nothing in the furie of their spoyle In regard of these difficulties thestate of things beeing eftsones brought into the counsell by the Viceroy euery one gaue this free iudgement that it would be a lesse infamie to correct the deliberation vndiscretly made in leauying the campe then by iustifying the error to breede bring vpon them some greater domage that not without the societie of a farre greater shame This opinion beeing related to the Bishop of Gurce by the Viceroy in the presence of many capteines for that he had refused to be at that councell he made aunswere that for that the discipline and practise of warre was not his profession it was no shame to him to confesse his ignoraunce in the seruice guyding of warre only touching the coūsell he had giuen to pitch the camp afore Padoa it moued not by any singularitie of credit in his owne wisdom but in the action he was caryed by the opinion authoritie of the Viceroy who both by letters expresse messengers had counselled themperour and giuen him great hope to cary it At laste the difficulties not ceassing neither for their complaintes nor for their debating no rather the dispayre of thenterprise daily increasing the camp brake vp after it had lien xviij dayes afore the walles of Padoa And hauing both at their breaking vp and vpon the way the light horsemen at their backes they withdrew to Vincensa which then was voyde of inhabitantes and lay as a pray to who was master of the fielde In this meane while the souldiors of the duke of Millan to whose ayde the Viceroy had sent Antho. de Leue with a thousande footmen tooke Pantovviquo wherin were two hundred footemen in garrison for the Venetians who neither amased with the thunder of thartilleries nor discoraged with the mynes that were made were constrayned at the ende of a moneth to yelde for want of vittels after they had valiauntly susteined thassault About the same time Ranso de Cero issuing out of Cremo ouerthrewe Siluio Sauello marching with his bandes and foure hundred Spanishe footemen to Bergamo whither the Duke of Millan sent him And a little after a Spanishe officer being returned to Bergamo to gather money Ranso sent thither a strength of three hundred horsemen and fiue hundred footemen who tooke together with the officer the rocke wherevnto he was fledde for his safety with the money he had leauied In this rocke were very fewe men of warre for that lx men at armes three hundred light horsemen and seuen hundred footemen with two thousand paisants of the Mount of Brianso were gone from Millan vnder the leading of Siluio Sauello Caesar Fieromosquo to reconquer Bergamo and they encountring vpon the way fiue hundred light horsemen and three hundred footemen sent by Ranso to Bergamo were easily put to flight by whose example the residue that affore had occupied Bergamo abandoned it leauing onely a garrison in the Rocke which standeth out of the Citie vpon a mountayne called the Chappell The Viceroy and Bishop of Gurce remayned certayne dayes at Vincensa and sente one parte of the Spaniards vnder Prosper Colonno to sacke Basciano Marostiquo not that they had offended but that the substances of that wretched people should minister norriture to tharmy wherein the payes did fayle Caesar standing alwayes oppressed with his accustomed difficulties the king of Aragon not hable of himselfe to beare out so great a burden and the duchie of Millan being excessiuely taxed by the Svvizzers was no more hable to contribute to the releefe of the residue The army aboade at Vincensa not without great discommodities by the continuall vexations of the light horsemen who ouerrunning day and night the whole contrey stopped all traffike and passage of vittels vnlesse they were garded with a great strength and that of necessitie must be of men at armes for that they were very fewe light horsemen Therefore to be out of these torments the Bishop of Gurce went to Verona very muche discontented with the Viceroy who following him by small iourneys got into Albero vpon the ryuer of Adice where he remained certaine dayes to giue oportunitie to them of Verona to make their haruest thincursions of the light horsemen not ceassing for all that who tooke from the Almains euen neare the gates of Verona the oxen that drewe thartilleries The Viceroy had layde a former plot to bestow the armie in garrison in the countreys of Bressia and Bergamasqua and at the same time to molest Crema which was all that the Venetians helde on the other side the riuer of Mincia which deuise being published had so assured the countreys thereaboutes that the territories of Padoa were full of inhabitantes and goods the same beeing the cause that the Viceroy who had no other meane to feede his armie then by prayes and pillage altered his plot and calling backe the Almains went to Montagnana and to Este and from thence to the village of Bouolento where after he had driuen away great flockes of cattell the souldiours consumed with fyre many fayre houses that stoode thereabout Still the desyre of pillage caryed them on and being the rather encouraged that the bandes of the Venetian footemen were distributed to the garde of Padoa and Treuisa the Viceroy marching in pillage from Bouolento determined to approche Venice but agaynst thopinion of Prospero Colonno who tolde him that no lesse was the daunger of thenterprise then the councell rash So that after they had passed the riuer of Bacquillon and sacked Pieuo de sacco which is a borow both great in situacion populous and full of all thinges they went to Mestro and so to Marguera which standeth vpon the salt waters from that place to
both had gone out of the right way but it was with a greater infamie and calamitie to him who raysed into greater degree made profession with his wisedom to be the guide of all others This resolucion and accord of P. de medicis did not onely assure the king of the things of Tuskane but it tooke out of his way all blockes and obstacles in Romagnia where the Aragons beganne now much to declyne for as it is a thing very hard to him that skarcely defendes him selfe from daungers imminent to prouide in one season for the perills of an other So whilest Ferdinand remeyned in sewertie within the strong fort of Faenza thennemie returned to the contrey of Ymola where after they had with a part of th armie assailed the borow of Bubane but in vaine because by his litle circuite a small strength sufficed to defend it and for his base situacion the contrey ronne ouer with waters They tooke by force the towne of Mordane notwithstanding it was very strong and plentifully furnished with souldiers to defend it But such was the furie of thartillerie and such the desperat hardines of the french in thassalt many being drowned as they passed ouer the waterie ditches that there was no abilitie of resistance by those that were within against whom the victors accompanied their fortune with such bluddy crueltie without regard to age or sex that they filled all Romania with generall feares and astonishments By reason of this accident Kathern Sforce despairing of succors accorded with the frenchmē to avoid the perill present and promised to their armie all commodities of the estates subiect to her sonne the same being the cause that Ferdinand now dowting of the wills of them of Faenza yea held it so much the more daungerous to remeyne in the middest of Ymola and Furly by how much he was wel aduertised of the going of P. de medicis to Serazana retyred neare to the walls of Cesena showing so great a feare that because he would not passe neare to Furly he led his armie by the hills a way more long and combersom neare to Castrocare a borow of the Florentyns And within few dayes after hearing of the conuencion which Peter had made with the french for which cause the bandes of the Florentyns forsooke him he tooke the way to Rome Like as also Dom Federyk being parted from the port of Lyuorne retyred with his armie towards the kingdom of Naples where begonne to be necessary for Alphonso those armies which he had sent abroad with so great hopes to inuade the estates of others for his affayres were ful of many aduersities on his side seeing that the seege of the port of Neptune not succeeding he had ledd backe his armie to Terracina And the armie by sea for the french whereof were leaders the Prince of Salerne and M. de Serenon were discouered aboue Ostia but yet giuing it out that they would not offend the states of the Church they put no men on lande nor showed any token of displeasure to the Pope notwithstanding their king many dayes before had refused to heare Frauncis Piccolhomini Cardinall of Siena Legat sent by the Pope to his maiestie But to returne to P. de medicis after the Florentyns were aduertised of the conuentions he had made so greatly to the diminucion of their territories with so slaunderous and dangerous a wound and gall to the common weale there was no litle displeasure and discontentement through out all the citie besides their great losses their hartes were moued against him for that with a newe forme and order of dealing and contrary to thexamples of his predecessors he had alyened without the councell of his citie and solemne decree of the Magistrates so great a parte of the state of Florence in so much that to the bitter complaintes made against him were ioyned the murmures and secret grudgings of the people incensing one an other to rise and recouer their libertie without that any of those that in their hartes bare fauors to the doings of Peter durst either with force or perswacion set them selues against so great an inclinacion Albeit the Florentyns hauing no strength to defend Pysa and Lyuorne had also no hope to turne the kinges will from hauing them yet because they would separate the councells of the common weale from the councels of Peter or at least that that should not be attributed to one in particular which apperteyned to them all in publike they addressed to him many Embassadors of those families which were ill contented with the Medicis But Peter knowing that that was a beginning of a mutacion of estate to th ende to prouide for his affayres afore greater disorders hapned applyed his deliberacions to the time tooke leaue of the king vnder couler to giue perfection to that he had promised At this tyme also the king parted from Serazana to goe to Pysa and Lodovvyk Sforce returned to Myllan hauing obteyned for money that thinuestiture of Genes graunted by the king a few yeres before to Iohn Galeas for him and his yssue should be transferred to him and his posteritie he went away very much discontented for that the king woulde not leaue in his keeping as he sayd he had promised S. Peter and Serazane which places seruing him as a ladder to rayse him to the citie of Pysa he demaunded as vniustly taken from the Genovvays a fewey ere 's before by the Florentyns But when Peter was returned to Florence he found the citie estraunged from him and the minds of his chiefe friendes in suspence for that against their councell and against thoportunitie of the time he had vndiscreetly gouerned all thinges The communaltie also was drawne into such an vprore mutinie that as the next day after his returne he would haue entred into the pallace wherein rested the authoritie and great magistracie of the common weale it was forbidden him by certeine Magistrats which kept the gate armed of whom the chiefest was Iacques de Nerly a yong man of equal nobilitie and riches This being spred abroad thorow the citie the people ronne with swift tumult to armes being the more moued to this vproare for that Pavvle Vrsin whom Peter had sent for was at hand with his band of armed men The aspect and consideracion of these daungers caused Peter eftsoones returned to his house and hauing lost both courage and councell and whilest the state declared him rebell to flee in great hast out of Florence following him Iohn Cardinal of the Church of Rome and Iulyan his brethren vppon whom in like sort were imposed the paynes ordeyned against Rebells he went directly to Bolognia where Iohn Bentyuole desiring in an other that constancie and resolucion of courage which he could not showe since in his owne aduersities reproued him bitterly at the beginning for that not onely to his owne preiudice but also to the ill example of all that oppressed the libertie of their contreyes
you can not be able to sustein but with very great difficulties In this generall confusion of thinges the king departeth from Pysa towardes Florence and is not resolued what forme he would giue to th affayres of the Pysans he stayed in a place called Signa vij myles from Florence to be aduertised afore he entred the citie whether the tumult of the people were in any sort reappaysed who had not discontinued their vproares since the day that P. de medicis was chassed out of the citie he had withall this intencion to giue tyme to M. D'aubygny whome he had sent for to th ende his entrey might so much the more astonish the Florentyns with direction to leaue thartillerieat Castrocare and giue leaue to the fiue hundred men at armes Italians which were with him in Romagnia togither with the men at armes of the Duke of Myllan except the Count Caiazze which followed M. D aubygny with three hundreth light horsemen it was supposed by many tokens and coniectures that thintēcion of the king was to draw the Florentyns by feare of his power to yeld vnto him the dominion absolute of the citie A thing which him selfe could not dissemble with their Embassadors hauing often recourse to Signa to make perfect thaccord that was contracted it was without dowt that the king bare a minde inflamed against them and nourished many ill disposed meanings against their citie for that they sought to hinder him in his enterprise And albeit it was manifest that that resistance proceeded not of the will of the common weale which in reasonable sort had iustefied them selues yet he could not so easily forget dissolue thimpression of the offence being as it was supposed much induced to their disfauors by many of his councell and Lordes who iudging it not meete to let passe thopportunitie to make him selfe Lord ouer the citie or perhaps pushed forward with their proper ambicion couetousnes were loth to lose thoccasion to sacke a citie aboūding in such treasors wealth in so much as there ronne a brute thorow the camp that the citie had deserued to be punished to serue as an example to others being the first towne in Italy that had presumed to oppose against the power and armie of Fraunce There were also of the chiefest of his councell that solicited him to restore P. de medicis to his former degree for whom with a peculiar diligence aboue all the residue did labor Phillip Lord of Bresse brother to the Duke of Sauoye being induced to that office by the priuat friendshipps promises that had passed betwene them in so much that eyther by the perswasions of them that could doe most notwithstanding the Bishop of S. Mallo councelled the contrary or by a hope to make the Florentyns more inclyned to his will by this feare or lastly to haue occasion to take vpon the suddeine what parte or way he would the king wrote to Peter causing also the L. Phillip to doe the like and aduised him to come neare to Florence for that for the auncient friendship that had bene betwene their howses for his owne particular readines and good will showed in the consignacion of the fortresses he was determined to readdresse him and restore him to his first authoritie But these letters found him not at Bolonia according to the kinges weening for that what by the rough wordes of Iohn Bentyuole dowte he should be pursued by the Duke of Myllan and happly also by the french king he was for his misfortunes retyred to Venice whether they were sent to him by his brother the Cardinall remayning then at Bolonia At Florence they dowted much of the kinges will yet not seeing with what force or with what hopes they might resist him they agreed as a councell least daūgerous to receiue him into their citie hoping there would some meane arise to appease him And yet making the best of their perills and because they would be prouided for all fortunes they ordeyned that the houses of most of the Citisens should be secretely replenished with men naturall of the dominion of Florence and that the Capteynes which were in the pay of the common weale dissembling notwithstanding thoccasion should enter the citie with many of their bandes and souldiers and that euery one within the towne and places about it should stand vpon ready garde to take armes at the alarme of the great bell of the publike pallaice After this the king marched to Florence with his armie wherein was expressed no litle pompe aswel by the glorie magnificencie of those of his Court as by them of the towne he entred in signe of victorie armed him selfe and his horse with his launce vppon his thigh and immediatly began to speake of composicion but that was not without many difficulties for besides the immoderat fauors which some of the french Court bare to P. de medicis and the demaundes of money intollerable made by the king he demaunded openly the imperie of Florence alleaging that according to the orders of warre in the realme of Fraunce he had lawfully wonne it seeing his entrey was armed according to the customs of Conquerors from which demaund albeit he went in the ende yet sought he to leaue at Florence certeyne men of the longe coate so are called in Fraunce lawyers doctors and men of iustice as his Embassadors with such authoritie that according to thinstitucions of Fraunce he might pretende to be giuen to him for euer no litle iurisdiction But of the contrary the Florentyns were obstinat to preserue their full libertie hapning what perills so euer in so much that communicating togither with such a contrarietie of wills albeit the mindes of both partes were continually kept in hoat and angry moodes yet neither faction shewed readines to determine the difference by armes for the people of Florence giuen of long to the following of marchaundize and not to thexercise of warre suffered no smal feares hauing within their owne walls one so mightie a king with his armie full of nations vnknowen and furious And to the french men was no litle amaze the consideracion of the great multitude of peoples who since the dayes that the gouernment changed had gathered boldenes and audacitie aboue expectacion They were astonished besides at the common brute that at the alarme of the great bell there would flocke infinite trowpes of people from all the partes confining In which common feare on both sides at the noyse of euery false alarme that was heard eyther part for his proper sewertie tooke armes but not one did assayle or prouoke an other The foundacion which the king sought to worke by P. de medicis was supplanted for that Peter wauering betwene the hope that was promised him and the feare that he should be giuen vp as a pray to his aduersaries asked councell of the Senat of Venice touching the kinges letters Truely there is nothing more necessary in great deliberacions and on
Calui where the same day the king was entred This did Triuulce notwithstanding that many others of the citie wel disposed to keepe their faith to Ferdinand did speake against it with many braue and hawtie wordes But being presented to the king all armed as he came in he tolde him in the name of the Capuans and souldiers That they seeing their forces defence and strength to fayle in Ferdinand whom they had faithfully serued whilest there remayned any apparance of hope were now come to make offer of their seruices to him bringing mindes to follow his fortunes where so euer he will employ them vnder honest condicions adding withall that he dowted not to bring him Ferdinand him selfe so that he would enterteyne and acknowledge him as apperteyned The king made him this gracious aunswere that he accepted the offers of the Capuans and the souldiers as also the comming of Ferdinand should be no lesse welcome onely that he should retein no porcion of the kingdom of Naples how litle so euer it were but that he would indue him with estates and honors in the realme of Fraunce It may be dowted with what maner of inducements this Triuulce a capteyne valiant and particular in the profession of honor was drawne to reuolte and leaue his king Touching him selfe he affirmed that he went by the wil and direction of Ferdinand to solicit some composicion with the french And being altogither excluded from all hopes and the iudgement manifest that the kingdom of Naples could be no longer defended by armes he thought it not onely lawful but also allowable to prouide at one tyme for the safetie of the Capuans and securitie of the souldiers But the common opinion of men made an other construction referring his reuolt to a desire he had that the french king might be Victor for that he hoped when he had made a conquest of Naples he would looke into the meanes by the which he might in like sort make him selfe maister of Myllan In which citie he being borne of a most noble familie and because for the priuie fauors which the house of S. Seuerin had with Lodovvyk Sforce with other occasions he had not place according to his vertues and merits he was wholly estranged from Lodovvyk for those occasions many wise men iudged that he had councelled Ferdinand to proceede in the actions seruice of Romania more temperatly then perhaps thoccasions required But in Capua afore the returne of Triuulce all began to declyne to reuolt the souldiers had sacked the pallaice armories and stables of Ferdinand the men at armes made diuisions of them selues and were bestowed in sundry quarters And Virginio and the Count Petillane were retyred with their companies to the citie of Nola belonging to the sayd Count by the donation of the Aragons sending first to the french king to demaund safeconduct for them and their people Ferdinand returned according to his word and promise hauing somewhat appeased according to the tyme the humors of the Neapolytaines by giuing them hope of the defense of Capua he was come within two myles of the citie all ignorant of the chaunge that hapned since his departure But the towne hearing of his returne and so neare approach and the people wholly exclayming against his reentrey drew into armes and by a common voyce and councell sent forth to meete him certeyne of the nobilitie to aduertise him to passe no further for that the citie seeing he had left it abandoned that Triuulce gouerner of the men of warre was gone to the french his owne souldiers had made a spoyle of his pallaice and Virginio and the Count Petillane left them to their fortunes and that almost all his armie was broken they were constrayned for their proper safetie to giue place to the conqueror with these newes no lesse heauy thē troublesom Ferdinand after he had made vayne instance euen with teares to be receiued returnes to Naples being wel assured that the example of Capua would draw the residue of the kingdom to reuolt as the citie of Auerse seated betwene Capua and Naples drawne into emotion dispatched present Embassadors to offer them selues to the french king And the Neapolytans consulting also manifestly to doe the like the infortunat king determined not to resist so obstinat a will of fortune and therefore assembling vpon the place of the new castell many of the nobilitie and people he deliuered to them this last and lamentable speech I may call God to witnesse and the consciences of all those men that heretofore haue had any informacion of my thoughtes and conceites that no desire made me more to aspire to the crowne then to expresse to the world with what greefe I misliked the rigorous gouernments of my father and grandfather and with a recompense more iust plawsible to reclayme by moderacion and benefits those hartes and affections which they had lost by their hard dealing and crueltie But the infelicitie of our house would neuer suffer that I shoulde receiue this frute which I esteeme more excellent and honorable then the kingdom itselfe seeing that to be a king is a thing that often tymes dependes vpon fortune but to be such a king as to turne all his cares and endes to the welfare and felicitie of his peoples that depends onely of him selfe and his proper vertue These be hard tearmes in nature to detect my parentes and chalenge their abuses to those to whom nothing is more welcome then thoccasion of reuenge nor any thing further of then hartes and affections to forgiue or forget I could say enough to iustifie my selfe for that it is easie for innocents to finde wordes to speake but seeing there is so litle comparison betwene their offences past and the merit of my innocencie present it were but in vayne to vrge a hatefull remembrance of them and yet nothing the more acquite you of the calamities that approach No in cases of aduersitie it is a better temperance to prouide for the ill that is comming then to amuse the tyme in complaintes against the Authors supposed leauing the consideracion of the cause to God with whom no mortall creature hath familiaritie in the vnderstanding and ordering of his iustice I see our affayres suffer hard fortunes and thextremitie wherein they are falne is of that nature that we may complayne more to haue lost the kingdom by thinfidelitie and feares of our armies and Capteynes then our ennemies can vaunt to haue wonne it by their proper vertue And yet our fortune leaueth vs not altogither without hope if we susteyne yet a litle tyme for that both by the king of Spayne and all the Princes of Italy is preparing a mighty succor their eyes being now opened that afore could not consider that the fire which burnes our realme must in like sorte without prouidence cast his flames into their seuerall estates And for me at the least courage shoulde not want to determine to gether the kingdom and my life
with this condicion notwithstanding to reuoke those aydes at all tymes when they should haue neede to imploy them in their proper affayres That they should lende to him fiueteene thowsand duckats to serue his necessities present And for the securitie of these expenses Ferdinand to assigne vnto them Otrante Brundusa and Trane with consent that they might still reteyne Monopoli and Puligniana which then were in their hands vnder this couenant to render them when their expeÌ„ses should be restored and satisfied prouided alwayes that neither by reason of the warre nor for the garding or fortificacions which they shoulde make they shoulde not redemaunde of him aboue two hundred thowsand duckatts Those portes being in the sea superior therfore of great oportunitie to Venice augmented much their greatnes which no man now opposing against them and since they embrased the protection of Pysa not hearing more of the councells of such as wished that to windes so fauorable they had giuen lesse sayles began to be stretched thorow all the partes of Italy for besides the thinges of the kingdome of Naples and Tuskane they had of new taken to their pay Astor Lorde of Faenza and accepted the protection of his estates A man very conuenient to keepe in feare the Florentyns the citie of Bolognia with all the residue of Romagnia To these particular aydes of the Venetians were added other succors of the confederats the Pope the Duke of Myllan and they sending to Ferdinand a ioynt supply of bandes of men at armes interteyned at their common paye And albeit the Duke of Myllan in whom remeyned as yet many semblances to keepe thaccord at Verceill notwithstanding the most parte of those thinges were directed by his councells woulde not either in the leuies of men or money or other demonstracions that his name were vsed yet he agreed secretly to contribute euery moneth tenne thowsand duckats for the succors of the kingdom of Naples The marching of the Vrsins and the Vitellies assured greately the affayres of Abruzze which were in no small confusion against the french men seeing Terame the citie of Chieta were drawne into rebellion with great dowt that Aquilea the principall towne of that region would doe the like which they at their comming hauing reconfirmed in the deuocion of the french and recouered Terame by composicion and sacked Iulyanoue almost all Abruzze was with one fortune eftsoones so re-established that th affayres of Ferdinand began to showe manifest declinacion thorowe the whole kingdome for that almost all Calabria was in the power of Monsr dAubigny notwithstanding his long sicknes for the which he stayed in Terace gaue oportunitie to Consaluo to keepe the warre kindled in that prouince with the Spanish bandes and strength of some Lordes of the contrey Besides Caietta with many places assisting followed the obedience of the french The Prefect of Rome with his companie and the forces of his estate after he had recouered the peeces of Montcasin inuaded the land of Lauora on that side And Monsr Montpensier albeit by the want of money he was muche restrayned to vse his forces yet he compelled Ferdinand to inclose him selfe in stronge places being vexed with the same necessitie of money and many other wants but wholly reapposed vpon the hope of the succors of Venice which for that contract betwene them was made not long before coulde not be aduaunced with readines and expedicion equall with the exspectacion of his affayres Montpensier labored to betray Beneuent by intelligence but Ferdinand eyther hauing dowt or some aduertisement of the practise preuented thexecucion by his suddeine entring the towne with his bandes The french notwithstanding came neare to Beneuent and lodging vpon the bridge of Fynoche they tooke Sâ—nezana Apice and many other townes bordering But these places bearing no fauor to their armie for vittells they discamped hauing also regard to the tyme drawing on to gather the tribute of the cattell of Povvylla one of the greatest reuenues of the kingedom for that it was wont to amount euery yeare to lxxx thowsand duckats which were all gathered almost in the space of a moneth Monsr Montpensier to depriue them of this commoditie and no lesse for thextreme necessities of his people turned his way to Povvylla whereof one parte was holden by him and the other at the deuocion of Ferdinand marching after him by the same way with intencion rather to hinder by art and diligence the actions of the ennemie vntill his succors were ariued then to fight with them in playne battell About this tyme arriued at Caietta an armie by sea of the french of xv great vessells and seuen others of lesser burden in which were imbarked at Sauone eyght hundreth launceknightes leauyed in the contreyes of the Duke of Gueldres and those Svvyssers and Gascoyns appoynted before by the kinge to be sent with those great ships which were to be armed at Genes To this nauie the armie of Ferdinand which were aboue Caietta to stoppe the passage of vittells being in deede for want of money ill appoynted gaue such place that they entred the hauen without impedimeÌ„t set their footemen on land with the same fortune toke Itry with other places assisting And after they had made a great pray thorow the coÌ„trey they hoped to haue Sesse by the meane of Dom Baptista Caracciol by whom they had promise to be put secretely within it But Dom Federyk who with the bandes that followed him being withdrawne to the borders of Tarenta was afterwardes sent by Ferdinand to the gouernment of Naples beinge aduertised of the conspiracie marched thether with speede equall to the daunger and made prisoner the Bishop with certeine others consenting to the treason In Povvylla where was the force and strength of the warre the affayres succeeded with diuersitie of fortunes to both the one and the other armie which were dispersed into the townes aswel for the sharpnes of the season as straitnes of the place not sufficing to receiue one of the armies wholly Their exercises were to make incursions and roades on horsebacke to pill and pray the cattell vsing rather industrie and agilitie then vertue or force of armes Ferdinand was lodged in Fogge with one part of his people and had bestowed the residue partely in Troye and partely in Nocere where vnderstanding that betwene S. Seuera within which towne was lodged Virginio Vrsin with three hundreth men at armes come to be vnited with the armie of Montpensier and the towne of Porcina where was Marian Sauella with a hundreth men at armes was brought almost an infinit quantitie of Muttons other natures of cattell he marcheth thether with six hundred men at armes eyght hundred light horsemen and fiueteene hundreth footemen And comming by the breake of the day afore S. Seuera he planted him self there with his men at armes to giue resistance to Virginio if he made any erupcion making his light horsemen to skowre abroad they ouerspred forthwith the whole
disorder or special tumult which he exspected would rise in his fauor A plot which happely had drawne some good yssue for him if fortune had not supplyed the negligence of his aduersaries for as in the beginning of the night he was lodged in the tabernacles certein smal houses vpon the high way with intencion to march the residue of the night so he was so hindred by wonderfull raynes and stormes continuing long that he could not present him selfe before Florence till long space after the sunne rising A chaunce which gaue leasure to such as made profession to be his particular enemies for the communaltie and all the rest of the Citisens stirred not exspecting quietly what woulde be the yssue of thinges to take armes with their frendes and followers and to prouide that the citisens suspected should be called restrayned in the publike pallaice by the Magistrats And lastly to make them selues stronge at the gate which leades to Siena was at their request Pavvle Vitelli ariuing there the night before in his returne from Mantua In so much as no commotion appearing in the citie Peter not stronge enough to force the gate which he had approched within a bow shoote And after he had remeyned there foure howers fearing with his daunger the suddeine comming of their men at armes whome he thought and his conceite was true the Florentyns had sent for from the seruice of Pysa he returned to Sienna where Aluiano parting from him and let into Tody by the Guâ—lffes he sacked almost all the houses of the Gebelyns and put to the slaughter liij of the principall bodies of that faction According to which example Anthonie Sauelle entred into Terny and Gattesquies by the fauor of the Colonnoys and lett into Viterby did the like execucions against the Guelffes in both the one and the other place and all the peeces thereabouts without that the Pope prouided for so great disorders in the state ecclesiastike because he abhorred all exspenses in like cases bearing by the propertie of his nature no compassion to the calamities of others he was nothing troubled with those thinges that offended his honor so that his profits or pleasures were nothinge hindered yet he coulde not auoyde the secret iustice of God expressed in domesticall miseries troubling his house with examples tragicall and a whordom and crueltie horrible aboue all the barbarous regions for where he had determined from the beginning of his election pontificall to appropriat all teÌ„porall greatnes to the Duke of Candia his eldest sonne The Cardinall of Valence who altogether estraunged from priesthood aspired to thexercise of armes hauing no patience to suffer that place to be vsurped by his brother enuying withall that he had better part then he in the loue of Madonne Lucrecia their common sister inflamed with lust and with ambicion mighty ministers to all mischiefs caused him to be killed one night as he rode alone in the streetes of Rome casting his bodye secretly in the riuer of Tyber The brute was if such an enormitie be worthy to be beleued that in the loue of Mad. Lucrecia were concurrant not onely the two brethren but also the father who when he was chosen Pope taking her from her husband being inferior to her degree he maried her to Iohn Sforce Lorde of Pesere And afterwards not able to suffer her husband to be his corriuall he made dissolucion of the mariage already consomated hauing made proofe before Iudges delegats of his owne creacion by witnesses subborned afterwards confirmed by apostolicall sentence that her husband was imperfect in the operacion of nature and vnable to cohabitacion The death of the Duke of Candia afflicted not a litle the Pope burning aboue all other Popes in a vehement loue to his children And as it is the greatest tryall of wisedom and courage of men to be temperat in mortall chaunces so such as are not accustomed to aduersities haue least rule ouer their passions they that neuer felt but prosperitie can litle iudge of the worthines of patience This Pope was so vnacquainted with the accidents of fortune much lesse enured with earthly losses and priuacions that from his infancie to that age all thinges had happely succeeded to him the same making this affliction so greeuous and intollerable to him that in the consistory after he had with a great compassion of minde and publike teares greeuously bewayled his miserie accusing many of his propper actions and manner of liuing which he had vsed till that day he assured with wordes full of efficacie that hereafter he would gouerne his life with other thoughtes and with a forme of liuing more moderat and ruled And for a beginning he assigned presently certeine of the number of Cardinalls to ioyne with him in the reformacion of maners orders of the Court wherein after he had employed certeine dayes at what tyme began to be manifest the author of the death of his sonne for the which at the first he had the Cardinall Askanius and the Vrsins in stronge suspicion he left there his former holy intencion his teares and all his complaints and returned more disorderly then euer to those thoughtes and operacions wherin he had consumed his age till that day There hapned in those seasons new trauells within Florence by reason of thenterprise of Peter de medicis for thintelligence and faction which he had with certeyne particlers in the citie was disclosed by reason whereof many noble Citisens were imprisoned and some fled And after the Magistrates had vsed meanes iudicial to verifie the order of the conspiracie not onely many were condemned to death which had solicited him to come and giuen him releefe of money but also Bernardyn de Nero to whom was imputed no other thing then that knowing the practise he had not reuealed it which fault of it selfe punishable by the head by the statutes of the Florentyns and by thinterpretacion which most part of lawyers giue to the common lawes was found so much the more haynous in him by howe much he was chiefe Magistrate when Peter came to Florence as if he had bene more greatly bownd to do the office rather of a person publike then priuate But the parents and kindred appealing from the sentence to the great councell of the people and that by vertue of a law made when the popular gouernment was established Those that had bene authors of the condemnacion fearing least the compassion of the age of the nobility and of the multitude of parentes woulde moderat in the mindes of the people the straitnes of the iudgement wrought so muche that they obteyned that to the lesser nuÌ„ber of the Citisens should be referred the resolucion whether the appeale should be suffered to be prosecuted or restrayned wherein being more stronge the authoritie and number of them which held it a thing daungerous and no lesse drawing to sedicion seeinge that the Lawes them selues suffered that to
that the coÌ„federats were alreadie at a point to ratifie the accorde past The Cardinall Vrsin being then in Sienna was ouerruled by the persuasions of Pavvle muche helping the reasons and authoritie of P. Petrucci And after long contradiction consented also Vitellozze and Ioh. P. Baillon who notwithstanding held the faith of Valentynois much suspected After the ratification of these men the Pope hauing lykewise ratified The Duke of Vrbyn notwithstanding thimportunities of his people promising to die at his feete not to goe from thence Yet hauing more feare of his enemies then confidence in their popular voices he returned to Venice and gaue place to the furie of thenemies hauing first dismantled all the fortresses of that state except Leox Maâ—uola The people Antho. Sansouâ—n who was afterwardes Cardinall going thether with commissioÌ„ and power from Valentynois to pardon them agreed to return vnder his obedience The Citie of Cameryn did the like for that their Lord was fled to Naples his feares being no lesse then his astonishments for that Vitellozze and the others hauing sent for their bands which were in the countrey of Fano prepared to go against him as soldiours to Valentynois In which times as the Pope made the Camp march to Palombaro which the Sauelles had recouered together with Senzana and other places apperteining to them and that by thoccasioÌ„ of tharmies leauied by the coÌ„federats So Duke Valentynois who had no greater desires theÌ„ to execute his most secret thoghts weÌ„t froÌ„ Ymola to Cesena where he was no sooner arriued then the frenchmeÌ„ at armes who were come thether a litle before and eftsoones rappealed by Monsr Chaumont departed from thence with the same speede they came Not by commission from the king but as was supposed for a perticular indignation hapned betweene him Valentynois or perhaps at his request to th ende he might be lesse fearful to those whom he desired greatly to assure At Cesena hee looked to readresse his bandes ter vppon suertie to bee eftsoones represented when they were called The Duke Valentynois seeking to ioyne recompense to his wickednes departed immediatly from Sini Galle and addressed him selfe to the towne of Castello where finding that such as yet remeyned of the famuly of Vitelly had abandoned the Citie he continued his way to Perousa from whence Iohn Pavvle fledde who was competitor in the miserable destinies of the others his punishmeÌ„t being greater though the tyme and maner were slower being by suspicion made wyser then the residue touching his going to Sini Galle The Duke left both the one and other Cities vnder the name of the Church hauing reestablished within Perousa Charles Baillon the Oddies and all the other enemies of Iohn Pavvle And as it is one chiefe vertue in men of enterprise to embrase occasions so he forgat not to apply to his fortune thoportunitie and fauour of the tyme by the benefit whereof his ambition made him assaie to make him selfe Lorde ouer Sienna being folowed with certeine exiles of the same Citie And drawing with the whole armie wherin were newly arryued the aydes promised by Bentyuolle towardes the borow of Pieua where knowing that the Cardinall Vrsin was prisoner he made strangle the Duke of Grauina and Pavvle Vrsin and sent Embassadors to Sienna to warne them of the towne to chase out Pandolfe Petrucci as his enemie in perticular and the common troubler of the tranquilletie of Tuskan He ioyned to the message this condition and promise that assoone as they had expulsed him he would eftsoones returne to Rome with his armie forbearing to doe any other oppression to their frontyers And on the other side the Pope and hee burning in one bloudie desire that as Pandolfe had bene a companion to the others in lyfe and actions so also he might communicate with their last extreame fortune and death They studied to loll him a sleepe with the same charme wherewith they had inchaunted the others to their destruction writing to him billettes and letters full of office and humanitie and soliciting him by messengers expresse promising no lesse assurance of faith good meaning and affection But the suspicion that occupied the people of Sienna that the Dukes intencion was to vsurpe that Citie made his enterprise against Pandolfe more harde for that albeit many of the Citizens were oftentimes ill contented with the gouernment of Pandolfe yet they helde it better to temporise vnder the tyrannie of one Citizen then to fall into the seruitude of a straunger In so muche that as at the beginning he could obteine no answer by the which might bee hoped the expulsion of Pandolfe So for all that continuing vnder the same semblance that he desired no other thing he wonne daily on them hauing passed Piensa Chiusa with other places neare to Sienna which yelded to him by composicion By which aduauntages wonne vppon them as it were by stealth and sutletie the feares increased so in Sienna that not only the people but also some euen of the chiefest began to murmure that it was not reasonable that to support one Citizen the whole Citie should suffer so great a daunger Which made Pandolfe to determine to doe that with the good lyking and fauour of euerie one which he feared to be constrained to doe in the ende with the vniuersall hatred of the Citie and his owne daunger And therfore by his consent it was signified to Valentynois in the publyke name of the Citie that they were content to gratifie his demaundes so that he would retyre with his armie from their frontyers This resolution was accepted notwithstanding the Pope and he were fixed vppon an enterprise of greater importance for that they knewe how harde a matter it woulde bee to take Syenna both for the greatnes and strong seate of the towne and also for the vertue of Iohn Pavvle Baillon commaunding within it who with the souldiours and naturall people of the place would ioyne in one strength to resist him if they were once assured that his intencions were contrary to the publication of his promises To this were added the feares of the Pope who helde it necessarie that for his proper suertie his sonne should retyre his armie to Rome where he was iealous of some conspiracie for that Iulio and others of the Vrsins with many horsmen were withdrawne into Petillano and Fabio and Organtyn Vrsin into Ceruetro Mutio Collonno also newly come from the realme of Naples was entred Palombaro to succour the Sauelleis who were newly entred into alliance with the Vrsins and had intelligence with them But that which tooke from the one and the other the hope to occupie Sienna was that it was now manifestly perceiued that the enterprise was directly displeasing to the french king For albeit he could haue wished and it was for his good pollecie that Vitellozze and the other confederates should bee kept vnder yet he sawe that their whole ruine ioyned to the conquest of so great estates made the Pope and
leasure to thartilleries to passe before But they beeing not hable to marche with that speede whiche was necessarie to their safetie the companies of thenemies beginning already to meddle with them there was begonne in that place a greate and hoate skirmish for that the reregarde of the Spaniardes came immediatly after who hauing passed the ryuer without resistaunce euen with those barkes of the bridge which had beene broken by the Frenchemen went towardes Caietta by the right way Consaluo marching alwayes on the wing with the residue of th armie the feight was violent at the bridge of Mola for a certayne tyme the Frenche meinteyning them selues principally by the aduauntage of the place but with feares farre greater then their valoures And the Spanishe ioyning furie to their fortune fought with the same felicitie which followe those men that suppose them selues to bee alreadie in the possession of the victorie At last the Frenchemen to whose dishabilitie beganne to succeede a feare least part of the regiments which Consaluo had sent by the coast for that effecte woulde cutte of their way beganne to retyre in disorder and beeing continually followed by their enemies when they came to the head of two wayes the one leading to Ytry and the other to Caietta they fell into generall and manyfest flying many remayning slayne as Barnardo Adorno lieftenant of fyftie launces many were taken prisoners and thartillaries abandoned with all the horses appoynted for the seruice of the same And touching the residue which fledde towardes Caietta they were victoriously chased euen to the gates of the Citie At the same time Fabricio Colonno sent by Consaluo after he had passed the ryuer with fyue hundred horse and a thousande footemen neare to Pontecoruo and beeing fauoured of moste parte of the villages and countreymen stripped the regiments of Lodovvyk de la Mirandola and Alexander de Triuulco Besides there were many of th armie who beeing lodged at Fondy Ytry and other places thereaboutes and hearing that the Spanishe had cast the bridge went not to the armie at the towre of Garillan but for their safetie dispersed into diuers places were taken and stripped by the countrey But Peter de Medicis who also followed the French campe with certayne other gentlemen had a greater misfortune for when the armie brake vp from before Garillan beeing mounted vppon a barke with foure peeces of artillerie to go to Caietta their barke sonke aswell for that they had ouercharged her as that the winds were contrarie to the mouth of the ryuer They were all drowned A destinie lamentable considering the qualitie of the persons with the maner of their dying Wherein though many vaynely dispute that fortune ledd them to so miserable an accident yet if wee will lifte vp our considerations to God we shall finde that he hath reserued suche a prerogatiue ouer all thinges whiche he hath created that to him onely belongs the authoritie to dispose all things by the same power where with he hath created them of nothing The night following Consaluo with th armie lodged at Castellona and Mola and appearing the next day before Caietta whither were retyred the Frenche Captaynes together with the Princes of Salerno and Bisignan he occupied immediatly the suburbes the Mount which the French had abandoned And albeit Caietta was sufficiently manned with multitudes of souldiours and no lesse prouision of vittayles besides the conueniencie of the place to be succored by th armie at sea yet yeelding to the consideration of their perils which were more in impression then in deede they lost courage and inclined with manifest consent to parley being not disposed to endure the perplexitie of expectation of succors that were incertayne They sent out the Baylife of Dyon and S. Colombo with Theodor de triuulco who in the mouth of all the residue accorded the first day of the yeere 1504. to giue vp to Consaluo Caietto with the castle vnder condition of free power to go out of the realme of Naples with their goods either by lande or sea and that Monsr d Aubigni and the other prisoners should be redeliuered both of the one and other partie But this capitulation was not so clearly set downe that Consaluo tooke not occasion to dispute that by the vertue of the couenants the Barons of the kingdome could chalenge no libertie or deliuery frō imprisonment This was the chase that was giuen to the french army nere to the riuer of Garillan being encamped vpon the shores or banks therof about fiftie dayes An ouerthrow hapning to them no lesse through their owne disorders then by the vertue of their enemies and so much the more worthy of commemoration and memorie by howmuch folowed as it were by succession of calamitie the absolute losse of so noble and mighty a kingdome together with the confirmation of the empire of the Spanish it norisheth also matter more worthy of monument for that the French entring with a farre greater strength then thenemie and no lesse plentie of all prouisions both by lande and sea necessarie to the warre they were vanquished with a facilitie farre contrarie to the course of victories and without bloud or danger of the conquerers but the thing that was no lesse lamentable in this accident then all the residue was that albeit there dyed very fewe of the Frenche by the sworde of the enemie yet the number was small that was reserued of so great an armie for that of the regiments of footmen which escaped by fleing and of those also that came frō Caietto after thaccorde there dyed many trowpes by the wayes aswell the sharpe violence of the colde as the rigour of sicknesse seruing to the execution of those miserable bodies whom fortune spared from the slaughters of the warres And of suche whose strength with great payne was hable to carrie them to Rome parte came sterued with the hardnesse of the weather and some through feeblenes languished lingring yet to abyde with greater paynes their latter tymes of this sorte many dyed in hospitals both of hunger and colde the streetes and highe wayes beeing lamentable testimonies of their calamities and the diches and other places vyle and vnworthy seruing as sepulchers to those bodies whose myndes not long since supposed them inuinsible agaynst all aduersities of warre And whether in cōparison of causes reasons we may referre the motions of these calamities eyther to destenie enuying the French and no lesse contrarie to the Nobilitie then to bodies of inferiour condition or to the diseases which fell vpon them by the discommodities they suffred about Garillan many euen of those who departing frō Caietta where they left the most part of their horses embarked them selues to passe by sea and eyther perished by the wayes or at least beeing reserued till they came into Fraunce dyed in the sight of their friends of whom they thought to receiue consolation Amongst these were the Marquis of Salusso Sandricourt the baylie of the Mountains with many
occasion she returned vnder the iurisdiction of the Venetians together with the intollerable harmes and domages she hath receyued We beleeue and your gracious aspects assure no lesse that in your hartes will be greater the compassion of our miseries then the hatred for the memorie of our rebellion if rebellion may be imposed vpon therror of that night wherein our people drawne into vniuersall confusion for that the armie of our enemie had forced the suburbs of Postello not to rebell nor to slee from the easie gouernment of Caesar but to deliuer our selues from the sacke and extreme afflictions of other cities did sende out Embassadours to compounde with the enemie To whiche action our multitudes and peoples not accustomed to armes and lesse acquaynted with the daungers of warre were altogether pushed on by the authoritie of Fracasso a capteine who experienced in so many seueral warres and appoynted of Caesar either by subtletie or by feare a matter not apperteining to vs to search gaue vs counsell to solicite an accorde for the safetie of our wiues our children and our poore afflicted countrey The same making it manifest that no yll impression of minde but onely feare increased through thauthoritie of such a capteine was the cause not that we did determine by long counsell but rather that in a very small computation of time in so great a tumult and in so fearefull a noyse of armes and artilleries thundring whose terrour vanquished our resolution we ranne rashly vnder the rule of the Venetians the felicitie and power of whome were not suche as we ought eyther to feare the one or affect the other Our condition was not to exspect or temporise for that thenemie was incamped in the places which the strength which was left for our succors had newly abandoned and as in communalties or multitudes the hope that is deferred maketh their hartes to languish so the long continuance of miseries suffiseth euen to shake the minds of the most assured Men not accustomed to aduersities haue least rule ouer their passions such as neuer liued but in securitie haue least temperance to beare a change Faults done by necessitie bring with them their proper pardon And as you are not nowe to doubt of the difference betwene faults cōmitted by feare error and offences proceding of fraude and ill intention so neuerthelesse though our fortune moue you to interpret our rebellion not to feare but to will that so vile an action was begon by counsel consent vniuersal not through cōfusion vnbridled rashnes of a few whō neither counsell nor authoritie could represse and be it lastly that the trāsgressions of this wretched citie were altogether inexcusable yet our calamities haue bin so great since that accursed reuolt that we may truly say that the punishmēt without al cōparison hath bin greater thē the fault for within our wals the garrison souldiers that were left for our safety and cōfort turned thēselues into the habit of aduersaries doing al things to thaggrauatiō of our miseries not sparing to spoyle those goods that were left vs for our releefe succor And without we haue not bene free from all those sortes of harmes which warre and hostilitie are wont to drawe with them our afflictions being so much the more greeuous and great by howmuche the warre hath bene continuall without intermission we haue nothing remayning in this miserable countrey which carieth any memorie of the riches delite or felicitie thereof All the houses of our poslessions are burned all our woods cut downe and wasted all our feelds gardens defaced and all our infinite heards of cattell driuen away and deuoured This is the seconde yeere that we haue bene driuen to reape our haruest afore the time that we haue had no securitie to sowe our seedes and lesse season to gather our fruites yea the seueritie of the time hath left vs no hope that this contrey so generally destroied can be euer readdressed Our miseries are come to these desperate tearmes and limittes that what with the needefull supportation of our lyues and to furnish thintollerable exactions whiche our necessities haue imposed vppon vs all that remayneth either of our hidden treasure or common stoare is farre insufficient to nourish the lyues of our wyues children and our selues to whome remayneth nothing but a miserable spectacle of the happinesse wherein we haue lyued If the present state of our countrey were nowe obiected to anye that had seene and knowen it before and our calamities present measured with our felicities passed I knowe it woulde stirre vp motions of pitie and compassion euen in the myndes of enemies considering specially that this Citie albeit it hath small circuite whiche was wont to bee replenished with inhabitantes stately in maiestie and presence riche through magnificence of buildinges and pallaces an assured and free retraite for all straungers a Citie reioysing in friendshippes societies and gratulations to be nowe made voyde of dwellers poore in the presence and countenaunces of men and women no place lefte for hospitallitie no one man hable to feede his familie for one moneth and in place of stately feastes meetinges and banquettes nothing left but penurie desolation and feare to showe friendshippe men sighing in the sorrowes of their wyues and children whome they can not comfort and women wayling the seueritie of their common destinie And these calamities oh gracious Prince of Hanavv woulde bee yet greater if we considered not that on your vertuous wyll dependeth eyther the laste desolation of oure afflicted countrey or the hope that once agayne vnder the winges of Caesar guided by your highe wisedome and clemencie we mighte lifte vp oure heades not to be restored for that agreeth not with our merite and fortune but consuming our lyues to thuttermost to auoyde at least an extreme and laste destruction A grace whiche wee so muche the more exspecte and hope for by howmuche your affabilitie and easinesse is knowen to vs wherein we doubt not but you wyll resemble and immitate Caesar with whose examples of clemencie all Europe is replenished All our wealth is consumed all our hopes determined all our fortunes layde at your feete there remayneth nothing else to vs but our lyues and persons agaynst the whiche to vse crueltie were neyther profite to Caesar nor prayse to you for as that benefite is vniust that is purchased with the hurte of an other so that glorie can not be without infamie that is wonne with the punishment of men in miserie Clemencie is as greate a vertue as iustice and Nature hath sowen in men aswell seedes of pitie and forgiuenesse as of crueltie and reuenge and hath enioyned Princes aboue all other creatures to beare an infinite regarde to the dignitie of vertue We beseeche you with teares which it may please you to imagine to be mingled with the miserable complaintes of euery sex of euery age of euery order that is within this Citie to make the wretched and desolate state
trayne of nobilitie all their bands and followers beeing sumptuously apparelled The Embassador of Venice resident with the Pope came to meete him at the gate of the towne making signes of very great submission But he with a wonderfull pride and arrogancie both in his gestures and wordes shewed him selfe not a little discontented that he that represented the ennemies of Caesar coulde not so muche brydle his impudencie and boldnesse as to forbeare to come in his presence With this pompe he went vp to the publike Consistorie where the person of the Pope attended hym with all the Cardinalls There he expressed in short speeche but with very hawty and proude wordes that as Caesar had sent him into Italie in a desire to obteyne that that apperteined to him more by the waye of peace then by the rigour of warre so neuerthelesse there was no place or possibilitie for peace if the Venetians made not franke restitution of those things that belonged to him in any sort soeuer After he had declared thus much in publike audience he deliuered no lesse in priuat to the Pope nothing abating his hawtines and the day following he accompanied these seuere beginnings with actions no lesse proude arrogant for the Pope hauing by his consent appointed three Cardinals to negociat with him the cardinall S. George Cardinall Regina and Cardinall de Medicis who attended him at the houre assigned to meete together he sent three of his gentlemen to negociat with them excusing him selfe to haue other busines holding it in deede a matter of great indignitie to debate with any other then the Pope This indignitie with many others the Pope swallowed sweetely thincredible hatred which he bare to the French surmounting the disposition of his nature But in the accorde betwene Caesar and the Venetians which began first to be drawne into disputation there were many difficulties for albeit the Cardinall of Gurce who in the beginning had demaunded all the townes consented in the ende that Padoa and Treuisa should remayne to them with all their partes and appurtenances yet he stucke to haue them giue to Caesar in recompence a very great quantitie of money and that they should holde them of him in chiefe and resigne to him the rightes of the other townes Matters which coulde neuer be agreed vnto by the Senate of Venice wherein it was vniuersally concluded that it was better for their common weale hauing already so fortified Padoa and Treuisa that they feared not to loose them to preserue and keepe their money for that yf euer that tempest passed ouer there might fall out some occasion to recouer easily all the residue of their dominion On the other side the Pope nourished an importunate desire to haue them agreed with Caesar hoping to make that an occasion to estraunge him from the Frenche king in which regarde he pressed them partly by requestes and partly by threates to accept the conditions that were offred them But his authoritie was no more so great with them not so much for that they were not ignoraunt from whence proceeded so great a desire as for that they knewe that their association and companie was so necessarie to him if he were not reconciled with the French king that they made assured reckonings that he would neuer abandon them Neuerthelesse after the trauell of many dayes and muche disputation made the Bishop of Gurce abating somewhat of the harde conditions which he offred and the Venetians yeelding more to the vehement instance of the Pope then they had determined and withal thembassadors of the king of Aragon interposing in the action it seemed they came at laste to accorde the Venetians the better to retayne Padoa and Treuisa by the consent of Caesar paying huge summes of money but referred to long tearmes There rested onely a meane to reconcile the Pope and the Frenche king betweene whome appeared no other difference then for the quarrells of the Duke of Ferrara and to resolue them with the residue of the controuersies for without that Caesar was determined to establishe nothing the Bishop of Gurce went to speake with the Pope to whome he went but seldome beeing perswaded by the hopes whiche the Cardinall of Pauia and the Catholike kinges Embassadors had put him in that it woulde be a matter of very easie action And on the other side he knewe that the Frenche king hauing lesse regarde to dignitie then to tranquillitie was disposed to consent to many thinges which bare but little preiudice to the Duke of Ferrara But the Pope on the contrarie cutting him off at the first began to exhort him that agreeing with the Venetians he shoulde leaue at libertie the matters of Ferrara seeming to be sorie that Caesar knewe not thoccasion that offred to be reuenged with the forces and money of an other of so many great iniuries done agaynst him by the French and withall that he carried to be required in a matter wherein reasonably he should beseech others with great instance To whiche things when the Bishop of Gurce had replyed with many reasons seeing he was not hable to turne him from his opinion he tolde him he would depart without giuing other perfection to the peace with the Venetians And at the instant hauing according to the custome kissed his feete he departed the same day beeing the xv after his arriuall at Bolognia to Modona the Pope sending after him in vayne to call him agayne assoone as he was departed the Citie from Modena he tooke his way towards Millan complayning of the Pope for many things but specially for that whilest by his comming into Italie there was almost a general surceassing frō armes the Pope had sent secretly the Bishop of Vintemille sonne to the late Cardinall Fregosa to trouble the state of Genes neuerthelesse the Frenche men sette such good espiall of his iorney that they tooke him in the contrey of Mountferat all disguised and vnknowen as he was and from thence carried him to Millan where he made manifest detection of the cause of his going and the whole enterprise his present perill driuing him to seeke his safetie more by disclosing then by excusing When the Bishop of Gurce departed from Bolognia he required the Embassadors of Aragon seeming not a little discontented with the Popes obstinacie to see returned to the realme of Naples the three hundred Spanish launces whervnto they condiscended readily A matter which made men to maruell the more for that at the same time that the generall councell was in negociation with exspectation that the armies of Fraunce Germanie accompanied with the presence of their Princes should be most mightie in Italie the Pope besides the yllwill of the French king seperated Caesar frō him stoode depriued of the succors of the king Catholike Some doubted that in this action as almost in al others the counsels of the king of Aragon were different from his demonstrations and that his Embassadors had practised one thing in publike and an
their daunger the difficultie of the wayes encreased continually both for the multitude of their cariages and the great quantitie of their pray and also for that they were driuen to passe thorowe wayes straite and full of ditches which they had had no oportunitie to enlarge or make plaine with mattockes and spades And yet notwithstanding by howe much their aduersities were great and apparant by so much greater was their necessitie of speede and hast their extremities coulde not make them forget to march in order the same proceding as wel of the vertue of the souldiours as the care and good office of the Capteines Neuerthelesse after they had marched two miles with so many perplexities of wayes and trauell they iudged it would be harde to holde out long in that sort their greefe beeing greater by the wearinsse of their bodies then by any feare of the perills they saw at hande But the enemies by their rashnes had not patience to expect till so fayre an occasion mighte be rypened which already was come to his perfection for Aluiano according to his custome being not hable to conteine himselfe charged vpon the rearegard of thennemies guyded by Prospero Colonno he went to the charge not in disorder but with th armie araunged in battell and his artilleries planted ready for th execution and it was sayde for certayne that beeing long in preparing to the charge Loredano a ruler amongest the Venetians rebuked him with very sharpe wordes that he went not to the charge whose slownesse sayd he gaue oportunitie to thenemies being already broken to saue themselues By these prouocations so valiaunt a Capteine was compelled to runne headlong to the feight and in great furie gaue the signe of the battell Some other affirme that Prospero Colonno was the cause of all the actions of armes that day by whose counsell the Viceroy had rather proue the vncertayne chaunce and fortune of the feight then otherwise to followe so small a hope of safetie And it is sayde that hauing made a showe that he would returne towards Vincensa Aluiano had caused to be bestowed in the suburbes of Vincensa Iohn P. Baillon with those bandes that were come from Treuisa and him selfe with the residue of th armie was incamped at Creatia within two miles of Vincensa In this place is a litle hill that gaue a conuenient commoditie for the vse and seruice of thartillerie against thenemies and at the foote of it is a valley capable of a mayne armie raunged in battell but it hath no way of accesse but onely by one straite way that runneth vp along the hilles and is almoste encompased with marishes It is sayde that Prospero knowing what incommodities this place gaue to thenemies perswaded to set vppon them in that quarter hauing there thoportunitie and seate of the place to set foorth their vallour But what so euer it was Prospero began to go to the charge with a resolution worthy of the reputation he bare and hauing sent to call the Viceroy which brought on the battell and on the one side and at one tyme the Spanishe footemen aduauncing by the direction of the Marquis of Pisquairo and on the other hande the squadrons of the launceknightes they brought vpon the Venetians so hotte and furious a charge that their feares beeing redoubled by the terror and vallour of their enemies the first assault almost suffised to put them all to flight The footmen threw downe their pikes and fledde with more shame then hope of safetie their ignorance or want of courage making them vnhable to susteine the furie of the charge The footemen of Romagnia whose Coronell was Ra. de Naldo Brisiquello were the first that serued to the others as an example of cowardise and infamie the residue of tharmy tooke the same course no man almost being seene to fight or once looke his enemy in the face yea the vertue of Aluiano was so abated and confused by this sodayne fleeing away that without stroke striking he left the victorie to thenemies to whom thartilleries with all the baggage remayned a pray The footemen were skattered into diuerse places and for the men at armes some fledde to hyde their shame in the mountaynes and some sought their safetie in Padoa and in Treuisa whither fled in like sorte Aluiano and Gritti In this encounter were slaine Antho. Pio an auncient capteine with Constance his sonne Meleager Furly and Lodo. Parma and the fortune of P. S. Ange was litle better who though his lyfe was reserued yet he escaped not without many miserable and mortall wounds The prisoners were Iohn P. Baillon Iulio the sonne of Iohn P. Manfron Malatesto Soligiano with many other Capteines and persons of name and marke Loredano the Venetian ruler fell into this calamitie but with a worse fortune for that two souldiours striuing whose prisoner he should be the one of them killed him against all humanitie Touching the generall slaughter of this conflict both of dead bodies and prisoners there remeyned about foure hundred men at armes and foure thowsand footemen the slaughter being so much the greater by howe much there could be no expedicion of fleing by reason of the marrais This also brought great domage to such as trusted in the chasse that Theo. Tryuulco shut the gates of Vincensa and would receiue in no kind of person for feare least the Victor and the vanquished should enter pellmell together By which impediment many striuing to passe further drowned them selues in the next riuer amongest whom were Hermio Bentyuiolo and Sacramoro Visconte This was the ouerthrow that fell vpon the Venetians the seuenth day of October neare to Vincensa worthy to be remēbred both for the example it gaue to capteines not to haue confidence touching matters of armes in thItalian footemen not experienced in battells pitched and raunged and also that almost in the turning of a hand the victorie was transferred to those in whom was least hope of sauetie This ouerthrow had put in daunger eyther Treuisa or Padoa notwithstanding with the residue of th armie Aluiano was retyred to the one and Gritty to the other if both the season of the yeare when raynes began to fall had not bene contrary and the townes bearing good fortificacions and the Capteines much troubled to dispose to new enterprises the souldiours that were not yet payd Neuertheles albeit the Venetians stood afflicted with so many aduersities no lesse confused with an accident so farre contrary to their hopes yet they forbare not according to the time and their abilitie to refurnish those cities to the which besides other prouisions they sent many younge gentlemen of the nobilitie as they had wont to doe in times of greatest perill After this battell things began to draw from armes to cogitacions and deuises of peace which was negociated with the Pope towards whom was gon the Bishop of Gurcy principally to protest obedience to him in the name of Caesar and tharch Duke In which action he was
made an end of speaking he commaunded to be read and interpreted the euidences of the crime obiected agaynst thē which being heard with very great attentiō Maldonato Snares the other two capteins not being suffred to answere were condēned by the common iudgement of the army as of a matter most manifestly proued and forthwith being committed to passe the pikes they were executed after the maner of souldiors Thus the army being purged as they sayde by this punishment of all threason they folowed on their iourney towards Perugia into the which was already entred Iohn Paule Baillon being departed from Pesero assone as he had knowledge of their intention and there arming his friends with many companies of peisants leauied in the contrey and confines there he prepared himselfe to defende it to whom the Legate had sent for succor Camillo Vrsin his sonne in law leader of the Florentins together with the men at armes of his conduct and two hundred and fiftie light horsmen with the which forces it was thought he might susteine the inuasion of his enemies the rather for that many deuises were made to hinder their proceedings for Vitello with his regiment of men at armes and Syse with the French launces who stoode now no more suspected for that betwene the Pope and the French king was established a consederation were marched to the citie of Castell Lavvrence de Medicis who being newly recured of his wound and also lately come from Ancona to Pesero was gone in post to Florence to prepare there things necessarie to the conseruation of that gouernment the cities adioyning There he tooke order that the Legate with the rest of the army should marche towards the dukedome of Vrbin to th end to counsell Franciscomaria to abandon thexpedicion of Tuskane for the gard whereof was left no other regiments of souldiors then a defence of thinhabitants Frans not without the hope of some intelligence or conspiracie did remoue his army to Perugia where Ioh. Paule riding about the city to take view he was assailed in the middest of the streete by a peisant or souldior of the countrey and fayling at that time to strike him to the death he was sodenly set vpon and slayne by the concourse of those that accompanied Iohn Paule who taking thoportunitie of this tumult caused certayne others whom he suspected to be murdred and so being deliuered from snares of conspiracie he seemed also to be acquited from all perill for that thenemies who had now many dayes lyen about Perugia had no meane to take it by force And yet Iohn Paule at a tyme when the Pope least exspected suche a matter alleaging in his iustification that the people of Perugia whose furie he had no power to resiste would no longer endure the spoyling of their countrey couenanted with th armie to paye ten thousande duckets to graunt vittels for foure dayes not to take armes agaynst Franciscomaria in that warre and they to issue presently out of the territories of Peruzia A matter very greeuous and of no little discontentment to the Pope for that it confyrmed the opinion conceyued of him from the beginning of this warre in going so slowely to the armie with the succours he promised and holding for suspected the power of Lavvrence he wyshed that Franciscomaria should conserue the Dukedome of Vrbin This also aggrauated the greese and discontentment of Baillon that whilest he was in the campe with Lavvrence Ranso and Vitello bare greater authoritie then he the memory of which things was happly the chiefest cause of his owne calamities in times following Franciscomaria hauing made condicionall agreement with the Perugians marched towardes the citie of Castello where when he had made certeine incursions with intention to enter the towne of Sansepulcro in the state of Florence the daunger of his owne state constrained him to take other counsel for that the legate Bibiena hauing eftsones leuied certaine bands of footmē Italians folowing the deliberation made at Pesero was remoued with the rest of his army to Fossombrono which city being battred with the artillery the third day was taken and sacked This done he led his army to Pergola where the day folowing the erle of Potenza with 400. Spanish launches sent from the king of Spayne to the ayde of the Pope did ioyne with the army within Pergola there was not one souldior but only a Spanish capteine many inhabitants of the regiō who being sore astonished begā to cōmon of yelding but while they were in parley the capteine who stood vpon the wal being wounded in the face the souldiors made assalt without any order or cōmaundement of their capteins wonne the town by force From Pergola they consulted to bring their army to Cagli but being aduertised that Franciscomaria hauing heard of the losse of Fossombrono was returned into that region with most great celerity they determined to retyre themselues wherfore the same night in the which the Legate receiued that intelligence they departed from Pergola hauing traueled to Montlion when knowing that there they might lodge they began to lay out the ground according to incāping being aduertised by other messengers that the celerity of the enemy was far aboue perswasion and that he sent before him 1000. horsmen euery one carying a footeman in croope to th ende that they being constrained to trauel with more leisure time might be giuen to the army to ouertake them they marched vij miles to a place called Bosco from whēce departing the morning folowing before day they came in the euening to Fano hauing almost vpon their backes the horsmen of thenemies which came with so great celeritie that if they had onely departed foure houres later they had hardly escaped the necessitie of the fight At this time the affayres of the Pope in other actions proceeded with no better felicitie then in the accidentes and euentes of the warre for that Alphonso the Cardinall of Sienna disdayning much the life of the Pope lay in wayre to betray him the rather for that the Pope hauing forgotten the trauels and daungers which Pandolpho Petruccio his father had endured to restore him and his brethren to the gouernment of Florence together with the operations whiche he with other young Cardinalls had wrought in the consistory to aduaunce him to the Popedome In recompence of so many benefits he had caused to be thrust out of Sienna Borghese his brother and him By which occasion beeing also spoyled of his fathers estates he coulde not maynteine the dignitie of the purple hatte with that glorie which he was accustomed and therefore being caried with hatred and reduced almost to dispayre he began to deuise by a young counsell to murder him with violent handes whom his hatefull hart coulde not brooke to loue but restrayned with the perill and difficulty of the fact more then with the example and common infamie that throughout all Christendome would ronne if any Cardinall should with his owne hands take away the
Cente defended by the Bollonois was retyred to Finalo at such time as the Svvizzers arriued yet he stoode afrayde least he would attempt some violent action vpon Modona being made naked of the garrison And the Bishop of Pistoia so wauered and was troubled for the instant requestes which Guicciardin made to him and for the perswasions of Vitelli who for his owne interest stirred him vp to passe into Romagnia with the Svvizzers to th ende to stop the passage of the duke of Vrbin That what for that he was irresolute what through his naturall slownes he did neither the one nor the other of those matters both for that Parma defended her selfe in Romagnia no impediment was giuen to the Duke of Vrbin because the Svvizzers would not march for wāt of their payes Which duke of Vrbin and with him Malatesta and Horace of the famulie of the Baillons passed the one to recouer his estates lost the other to returne to Perousa hauing assembled at Ferrara 200. men at armes 300. light horsemen and 3000. footemen An armie which willingly followed them partly for friendship and partly for hope of spoyle for neither of the frenchmen nor Venetians they could obteine no other fauor then a permission to who soeuer had takē their pay to folow thē that the Venetians were contented that Malatesta Horace should depart out of their pay Thus they went from Ferrara to Lugo all along Pavv and finding no impediments in the estate of the Church they drew neare to the Duchie of Vrbin where the duke being called in by the peoples recouered presently his whole estate except certaine peeces holden by the Florentins and so turning towards Pesero he tooke the towne with the same facilitie and within fewe dayes after the castell he ioyned diligence to his good fortune and hauing chased out of Camerin Iohn Maria de Varana the auncient lord who for his greater dignitie and illustracion had obteined of Pope Leo the title of Duke he bestowed within it Sigismund a gentleman of the same famulie by whome was pretended a better right in the same estate And yet the Duke who was withdrawne within Aquila kept still the Castell And so after thexpedicion of these matters he turned with Malatesta and Horace Baillon to Perousa of which place the Florentins had taken the defence not so muche of their owne counsell as following the will of Cardinall de Medicis wherein he was pushed on eyther by a kinde of hatred that he nourished agaynst the Duke of Vrbin and the Baillons or by thimpediment of their neighborhood which he thought might put in daunger the authority he had in Florence or lastly for that aspiring to the Popedome he sought to cary the reputacion that he alone was the defendor of the Churche during the sea vacant the College of Cardinals hauing no care to defende any part of the ecclesiastike dominion neither in Lombardie in Tuskane nor else where The same proceding partly by the diuision of the Cardinalls being no lesse full of ciuill factions then wholly drowned in deepe ambicion to climbe to the Popedome And partely for that it coulde not be founde neither in the treasorie Pontificall nor in the Castell S. Angelo that the late Pope had lefte any prouision of money for suche were his prodigalities that he had not onely consumed the moneyes whiche his predecessor had left him with an incredible quantitie of treasor which he had leauyed of the creacion of newe officers with a yearely diminucion of fortie thousande duckets of reuenue But also he had left the sea charged with huge debtes and layde to pawne all the precious Iewelles of the holye treasorie Vppon whiche occasion was published this subtill speeche that other prelacies ended with the death of Popes but the pontificacie of Leo was to continue many yeares after Onely tharchbishop Vrsin was sent by the Colledge to Perousa to accorde an vnitie and reconcilement with the Baillons but that deuise was no lesse vayne then the labour fruitlesse for that the man was suspected to Gentill for thalliance he had with the sonnes of Iohn Pavvle and also for the condicions that were offred bearing no suretie for him In so muche as towardes the laste daye of the yeare the Duke of Vrbin Malatesta and Horace Baillons with Camilla Vrsin who being followed of certayne voluntaries was newly vnited with them went to Pont. S. Iohn and from thence running vp to other places thereaboutes they dyd great domages aswell by night as by daye to the Citie of Perousa where ouer and besides fiue hundred footemen whiche Gentill had leauyed the Florentines had sent thither two thousande footemen and an hundred light horsemen vnder Guido Vaino and 120. men at armes and an hundred light horsemen vnder Vitelli. This time was quiet in the duchie of Millan no other thing beeing done by eyther of the parties then certayne roades and pillages And the better to execute those domages vppon places holden by the Church those bandes of Frenche men which were remaining in Cremona being 2000. footemen had set vp a bridge vpon Pavv by thoportunity wherof passing oftentimes vpō the territories of Plaisanca Parma they did harmes to the whole contry And notwithstanding Prospero by thincitacion of other capteins did publish that he would take Trezzo had already sent thither artilleries yet he forbare to put the deuise to execution alleaging that it was not conuenient that the armie should be restrained to any one place to thend to be the more hable to succor thestates of the Churche if the Frenche shoulde begin to execute any action vppon them But it seemed his thoughtes were farre different from his wordes for that when he was tolde that the Frenche campe was planted before Parma muche lesse that he made any signe to succour it seeing he sayde it was more conuenient to exspect the euent and issue yea that whiche more is at suche tyme as Plaisanca remayned disfurnished of garrison for that the Svvizzers of the Cantons of Zurich according to the sommonce of their Lordes were gone awaye in haste Prospero dyd what he coulde to lette the Marquis of Mantua for going from Millan with his bandes and he beeing put within Plaisanca susteyned that Citie to his great prayse with the footebandes of his estates not sparing oftentymes to releeue their necessities with money Amidde so many daungers and variacions there was no prouision for thelection of the newe Pope a matter which was deferred to the great preiudice of thestate ecclesiastike both to giue time to the absent Cardinals to resort to Rome and also for that the Cardinall of Yurea going from Thurin to Rome was deteined in Millan by commaundement from Prospero Colonno to th ende he should not assist the assemblie in the conclaue for that he was a fauorer of the French Vppon whose restrayning the College set down a decree that so many dayes would they tary to enter the conclaue howe many the Cardinall Yurea
and bringing away a true discouerie and informacion howe easie it were to take the place bothe for the litle forces they had and for the lesse order they kept he perswaded the residue to assault it presently But the Lieuetenant cutting of that deuise stept in and with very short speeches tolde him what greese the Pope woulde conceyue by those disorders together with the domage that consequently woulde followe vppon all the affayres of the Confederates In which regardes as it were better to labour rather to appease and settle then to kindle and incense the heartes of men So also it was a matter not a little preiudiciall to make knowen to the Duke of Vrbin and others so great a facilitie to carye it In so muche as raunging him to his opinion he procured him so to temper with the residue and to reconcile the mutinie without the helpe of armes that they all approued his deuise and made choyse of them two to goe vp to the Pallace to deale with the Conspirators and assure them in generall and particular that what so euer they had committed agaynst the lawes of the state that daye shoulde not in any sorte be imputed agaynst them And beeing gone vp to the Pallace vnder safeconduit of those that were within they induced them at laste after many difficulties to condiscende to abandon the Pallace which they coulde no longer keepe Thus was the tumulte appeased more by industrie then by armes And the Citie that earst was full of insolencie and furie was thus by counsell deliuered from daunger and all thinges returned to the same estate wherein they were before the mutinie But oftentimes as ingratitude and reproche are farre more ready then the remuneration and prayse of good workes So albeit for the present the operation and witte of the lieftenant Guicciardin was highly esteemed and commended yet not long after the Cardinall of Cortono burst out into murmure and complayntes agaynst him that holding more deare the safety of the Citizens and particularly Levvis Guicciardin his brother being at that time chiefe Magistrate then carefull ouer the greatnes of the house of Medicis his artificial dealing had bin the cause why thestate had not bin that day established for euer in the house of Medicis with the armes blood of the Citisens And on the other side the commons and populars followed him with accusations and complayntes for that bringing backe from the Pallace reaportes that the daungers were farre greater then they were he had betrayed the vallour of the Nobility by inducing them for the benefite of the famulie of the Medicis to render without any necessitie So hard it is to do the thing that beareth a cleare sight in the eyes of all men for that no good action what dignitie so euer it hath if it bring not with it the fauour of the time wherin it is done and the opinion iudgement of those into whose hearts it seeketh to insinuate and winne place it is but a candle that burneth dimme and whose shadowe seemeth more then the lighte Albeit you see the tumulte of Florence appeased the same daye without murder and blood yet from that originall ground did ensue successiuely many great disorders yea it may be inferred that had it not bin for that accident the ruine that happned immediatly after had bin accompanied with his euasion for bothe the Duke of Vrbin and Marquis of Salusse abyding still at Florence for the occasion of the mutinie went not on according to the first resolution to view the lodging of Ancisa And also the day after the appeasement Lovvis Pisan and Marke Foscaro Embassadour for the Venetians with the Florentins taking occasion vppon the inconstancie of the Citie protested that they would not suffer the armie to passe Florence vnlesse there were made a conclusion of the confederation which had bin negociated In which they demaunded contribution for ten thousande footemen seeking through the oportunity of the time to serue their turnes of the necessities of the Florentins But in the end the cōclusion was accomplished the xxviij day referring the matter of the cōtribution to the sentence of the Pope who was beleued to be alredy reunited with the confederates Besides the time being accomplished for the payes of the Svvizzers Loys Pisan hauing no mony to furnish them for the yll ordenāce and addresse which the Venetians had giuen there past certen dayes before he could make prouision of money In so muche as through these variations and other impedimentes subsisting the good counsell to drawe with the armies to Aneisa was made vayne But in this estate and condition of affayres the Pope looking with better eye into the wyles wherewith the Duke of Burbon had abused the Viceroy and also seeing him to aduaunce forwarde into the heart of Tuskane turned by necessitie all his cogitations to the warre And in that humor discerning on all sides nothing but visions of daunger and feare after the xxv daye he made a newe confederation with the Frenche king and the Venetians by the whiche as they were bounde to minister to him a greate summe of money so he would not restrayne him selfe nor the Florentines to anye further obligation then their faculties were hable to beare alleaging that vppon them both had bene layde already heauy burdens of exspences and trauelles But albeit these conditions very grieuous of themselues were approued by thEmbassadours of the confederates to seperate entirely the Pope from the accordes made with the Viceroy yet they had not their perfection and confirmation by their maisters and heades principall in whom eyther their authoritie or their will did muche to dissolue the conditions of the action for the Venetians charged Dominike Venerio with a great errour for that without commission of the Senate he had concluded a confederation of great exspences and little frute since they gathered by the Popes inconstancie that in all occasions he would eftsoones turne to his firste desire to accorde with the Viceroy And touching the French king both drayned of money and driuen more to weary themprour with the longnes of the warre then with the victorie he iudged it would suffice nowe to enterteyne the warre with a small exspence And which more is albeit in the beginning whē he vnderstood the Pope had made truce with the Viceroy both the matter and manner of the truce were grieuous to him yet looking better afterwardes into thestate of affayres he wished that the Pope would dispose the Venetians without whom he could make no conuention to embrace the truce But at this tyme the Pope was not a little discontented to see the body of the warre transferred into Tuskane and yet lesse grieued then if it had imbraced the towne of Rome and in that regarde he leauyed bands of souldiours made prouisions for money but not with that property of diligence which the estate of his daungers required He had also a purpose to sende Ranso de Cere agaynst them of
himselfe with the residue of his people he aduised him to goe ioyne himselfe to the army of the league where he should do more profite then if he were inclosed within the towne of Rome Which letter albeit did litle harme for that the Count was not so farre aduaunced as he might aryue in time yet it made good declaratiō what slender sense or feling he had of the present dangers But if it may be referred to a wonder that mortall men neither can not nor know not howe to resist destenie it was a matter no lesse maruelous that the Pope who before was wont to despise Ranso de Cere aboue all other capteins threw himselfe now into his armes and reapposed his life and estate wholly vpon his confidence and iudgement And yet this was a matter more straunge and contrary that he who in farre lesser daungers was wont to be vexed with feare and terror beeing euen vppon the poynt to abandon the Citie at such time as the Viceroy drew with his campe to Frusolono Now in so great a tempest of perill and hazard cōtrary to his custome his nature and all exspectation did not only constantly remayne in Rome but had so great a hope to defend it that being as it were the aduocate somner to solicit for thenemies he did not only forbid men to go away but also in the same obstinacy he gaue out ordenance that there should not be transportation nor outcarying of goodes suche as Marchantes with other natures of Artificers woulde for safety haue sente downe the ryuer The fift day of May the duke of Burbon incamped within the medowe neare to Rome from whence with the insolencie of a souldiour he sent a trumpet to demaund passage of the Pope through the citie of Rome to go with his army to the Realme of Naples The morning following vppon the poynt of the daye by the consideration of his case and thaduersities therof he found there remayned no other hope for hys affayres then to be resolute to releeue the afflictions of his armie and according to the oportunitie that was offred by the citie of Rome eyther to dye or to vanquish In which resolution pushed on more and more by the murmures and exclamations of his souldiors in whom he could not discerne which was greater either their insolencies or their necessities he drew neare the suburbes by the way of the Mountaine and Santo Spirito where he began to giue a furious assault wherein he seemed to haue the fauour of fortune who made him present the armie in more surety by the benefite of a thicke mist which beeing rysen before day and increased with degrees of fogge and thicknes became such a couer to his whole campe that his souldiours were not discerned til they were neare the place where they began to giue the assalt The Duke of Burbon through a laste dispayre of his estate aduaunced before all his companies eyther for that he had no other exspectation of refuge in case he returned not victorious or else by his owne example he thought to call on with a greater courage the Launceknightes whome it seemed went not resolutely to the seruice But suche was his destenie to determine his life and his glorie together or rather suche the rewarde of his wilfull forwardnes which for the most parte heapeth wretched effectes vpon such as seeke not to accompanie their vallour with counsell and discression In the beginning of the assaulte he was striken with a bullet of a harquebuze of which wound he fell downe dead to the earth receiuing iustly vpon his body and life the price of the action which contrary to all iustice and pyetie he went about to execute But muche lesse that his death did abate or diminishe seeing it did inflame and redouble the courage of his souldiours who feighting with a wonderfull constancie the space of two houres made way at last by their hands and weapons to enter the suburbes wherein they were not onely holpen by the weaknes of the rampiers which were great and generall but also they found helpe in the slender resistance which the defendantes made An experience of right good doctrine to such as haue not as yet gotten by the benefite of examples paste the knowledge of things present who in that action may discerne what property of difference is betwene the vertue of souldiours exercised trayned in warre and armies newly and hastily leauied and compounded of the multitude of a people more wilful then skilfull and by so muche lesse apt to be drawne vnder discipline by how much more by their nature and custome they are seldome conformable to any good order For there was at the defence of the suburbes one parte of the youth of Rome vnder the enseignes of the people notwithstanding that many of the Gebelins and faction of Colonno desired or at least did not feare the victorie of thimperialls They hoped in regard of their faction to receiue no harme or offence by the victors the same being the cause why they proceded so coldly in the defence Neuertheles for that according to the rules of warre it is a hard matter to take townes without artilleries there dyed of the assaylants partly by that want and partly through their wilfull forwardnes about a thousand footemen who hauing once by their vallour made the waye open to enter in all the defendantes fled before them as men whose feare was farre aboue any other sense or passion in them In which disorder some tooke the waye which his fortune and not his witte layde out for him some in the astonishment seking to flee who durst no more feight was slayne by thenemy afore he could resolue vpon the way of his safety some eyther better prepared or more happly preserued found that safety in running away which they could not but dout if they had longer endured the fight and some with that resolutiō which their present calamity would suffer ranne by heapes towards the Castell where in place of reskew they founde a feare conformable to their owne In so much as all things beeing reduced to confusion and manyfest flight the suburbes were entirely abandoned and lefte a pray to the victors And the person of the Pope who exspected with great deuotion in the pallace of Vattican what would be the issue of thassault hearing that the enemies were entred had also with the others his passions of feare and frayltie and in that tymerous contemplation of hys owne perill he fledde with certayne Cardinalls to the Castell His feare kept him from beeing resolute in a perill that was so desperate neyther dyd he thinke that with the presence and maiestie of his person though it was couered with the vayle of the highest dignitie vpon earth he was hable to put by the daunger which the vallour and fidelitie of his souldiours could not defende with their weapons There he consulted with the Cardinalls whether it were more for his safety to remayne there or during
euen in the market place of Naples where the plage raged most and in the publike view of the people caused to be beheaded Federike Caiâ—tan sonne to the Duke of Tracetto and Henry Pandon Duke of Bouiano a discendant of one of the daughters of olde Ferdinand king of Naples together with foure other Napolitains extending also the same rigour of punishment vpon other places of the kingdom with which maner of proceding no lesse pityfull in the persons theÌ„ dangerous for the example he reduced into feare and astonishment the mindes of all men not omitting to proceede against the absent such as had folowed the french faction with confisquacion of their goods which afterwardes he suffred to be compounded for with money did not forget any violence or extremity by the which he might draw greatest summes of money All which actions of murder and oppression were supposed to haue their deuise and resolucion by the witte of Ierom Moron to whom was giuen in recompense of his seruices the Duchie of Bouiano To these emotions and sturres was added the exploit of Iohn Iacques Franquo in Abruzza who entred for the french king into Matrina which is neare to Aquila by whose comming all the partes people of the contrey drew into commocion neither was the region of Aquila without suspicioÌ„ of rising where lay sicke with six hundred footemen Serro Colonno Moreouer the Venetians made prouision for the affaires of Povvylla who sending by sea certeine companies of light horsmen to furnish Barletto one part of the vessells which caried them perished in the lakes of Barletto and Trany where there Treasorer was drowned seeking to saue his life in a litle skiffe The companies of horsemen who had for their leader Iohn Conrardo Vrsin being sore beaten with the rage of the tempest fell into the handes of the imperialls Iohn Pavvle de Cero who made his shipwracke neare Guast remeined prisoner to the Marquis In the latter end of the yeare the region of Aquila became for the league by the meane of the Bishop there and good working of Count Montoiro with others of the exiles who being hardly vsed by the imperialls sought their remedie by reuolt In the beginning of the yeare 1529. began to appeare on all sides certeine signes good disposicions to peace which seamed to carie a generall desier to be solicited negociated in the Popes court for as there was good aduertisemeÌ„t that the Cardinall Saint Crosse such was the title of the Spanish generall was gon vp to Rome with warrant from themprour to conclude a peace so the french king whose desier to end the warres was nothing inferiour dispatched to the same end a commission to his embassadours in which action also the king of England tooke interest and in the same regard sent agents to Rome which matters of negociacioÌ„ hope of peace ioyned to the trauell wearynes of princes brought the confederats to proceede slowly in the prouisions of the warre for that in Lombardie their greatest thought care was whether the Spaniards being come to Genes could passe to Millan from wheÌ„ce the launceknights for want of pay were almost all retired and to conduit them thether Belioyense with a hundred horsemen was gonne vp as farre as Casa and from thence in habit disguised was passed into Genes from whence he led the saied footebands of Spaniards to Sauona with intencion to gather together fiue hundred more newly come out of Spaine and were disbarked at Villa franco But in the realme of Naples the imperialls could not but dowt that the rebellion of Aquila and Matricia together with the sturres and risinges that had bene made in Povvilla would breede bringforth some matter of farre greater importaunce and therefore to cut of and remedie the mischiefe affore the ill were come to his fulnes they determined to conuerte to thexpugnacion and suppression of those places the forces they had in that resolucion the Marquis of Guast with his regiment of Spanish footemen was sent out to recouer the townes of Povvilla and the prince of Orenge likewise with his Launceknights was dispatched to reconquer Aquila and Matricia who assoone as he made his approches to Aquila they that were within issued out and left the place abandoned The prince compounding for the citie and the whole contrey at a raunsom of an hundred thowsand duckats and tooke awaie by vertue of his conquest contract the oblacion of siluer which the french king Loys the tenth had consecrated to Saint Barnard from thence he sent soldiours to Matricia where lay in garrison Camyllo Pardo with foure huÌ„dred footemen who was gonne awaie not many daies before with promise to retorne againe But being not without his seuerall feares both for the wante of wine whereof was left no stoare the necessity of waters which were all câ—â—â—o from them and for the faction betwene the towne and the souldiours which was stronge and violent and lastely for some other reason which men in their timerusnesse wante not he did not onely not retourne againe but also he kept from them some of that releiffe of money which the Florentyns had sent to him for the defending and succouring of that place By reason of which disorders both their leader hauing left them and their wantes without comfort or hope of releuing the soldiours went in their araie vpon the walls and the townesmen rendred the place The consideracion of these good euents and issues brought a feare least the prince of Orenge would passe into Tuskane at the instance of the Pope who being deliuered of a most daungerous but short disease ceassed not to solicite and giue hopes to all men â–ª he promised the frenchmen to sticke to the league so farrefoorthe as Rauenna and Seruia were rendred to him And he offred to compound vnder reasonable condicions with the Florentyns and Duke of Ferrara who touching the payments of money made before to Monsr Lavvtrech affirmed that what he did in those paymentes was of his liberalitie and not by vertue of obligacion for that the Pope had forborne to ratifie On the other side now that he had recouered though at great charges the Castells of Ostia and Ciâ—ita vechia by vertue of a coÌ„mission which the Cardinal Saint Crosse had brought he enterteined with themperour intelligences more secrete and practises more certeine then before yea they debated rather vpon their affaires particular which began to be managed in a course more assured and secret then that there passed betwene them any action or solicitacion tending to the vniuersall peace Onely in Barletto thestate of affaires was this Barletto was holden for the frenche king within the which was Ranso de Cero and with him the prince of Melffe Federike Caraffa Symon Roman Camyllo Perdo Galeas de Farurso Iohn Conrard Vrsin and the prince of Stigliano The Venetyans had Trany Pulignany and Monopoly their forces in those places were two thowsand footemen and six hundred horsemen
Alphonso And assoone as he was arriued at Vellitre the Cardinall of Valence fledd secretly from him with the which albeit the Pope showed him selfe much discontented offering to giue the king such assurance as it pleased him yet wise men beleued that it was not without his practise and commaundement as one that sought to haue in his power to obserue or not obserue the conuencions he had made with his maiestie an action agreeing with his ambicion which most gouerned him but farre from the office of his profession which he least esteemed making nothing vnlawfull for that he challenged to him self to haue power to dispense with all things from Vellitre the vauntgarde marcheth to Montfortyn a towne of the Church seated in la Campagnia and subiect to Iacques a gentleman Romayne who had at first followed the pay of the french king But since the hate he bare to the Collōnoys preuailing more with him then his proper honor he was become mercenarie to Alphonso The place being well shaken with the great artillerie was taken notwithstanding his strong situacion within few howres by the french who executed by the sworde all that were found within it except his three sonnes and certeine others that retyred into the castell but made prisoners assoone as they saw thartillerie planted from thence th armie marched to Mont S. Iohn a towne of the Marquiss of Piscaire seated in the sayd Campagnia vpon the confins of the kingdom this towne besides it was strong by nature and industrie of men yet it was well furnished with souldiors to defende it hauing in it three hundred footemen straungers and fiue hundred of thinhabitants well appoynted for all daungers In so much as it was not thought pregnable but by a hard and long seege But after the french men had somewhat searched the walls with their cannons they gaue in the presence of the king then come from Veruue so hoat and violent assault that vanquishing all difficulties they tooke it by force the same day And following their naturall furie as also to warne others by this example not to be so obstinate to resist they made lamentable slaughters wherein sparing no sort of barbarous crueltie they followed the desolacion of the place with setting fire on houses A maner of making warre not vsed in Italy in many ages before and therefore filled the whole realme with more generall feares and terrors for in Italy in all victories obteyned in what order so euer the most extreme and last action wherein the Victor would stretch out his crueltie was to disarme spoyle the souldiors and so let them goe vanquished and for townes taken by force to put them to sacke and pillage and thinhabitants to raunsom pardoning alwayes the life of men not slayne in the heate and furie of the fight This was all the resistance the payne and impedimentes which the french king had to conquere so large so rich and so populous a kingdom for the defence wherof there was not showed in any sort any vertue any courage any councel any force any faith nor any desire of honor for after the Duke of Calabria after his going out of Rome retyred to the borders of the kingdom and from thence called to Naples by the flying of his father had taken vpon him thautoritie and title of king but more with solemnities then with pompe and ioyes accustomed and that he had assembled his armie contayning fiftie squadorons of horsemen and six thowsand footemen of choysse and ledd by the best reputed Capteynes in Italy he incamped him selfe at S. Germayn to stoppe thennemie for passing further being drawne thither by thoportunitie of the place inuyroned on the one side with high and rough mountaynes and of the other with a contrey full of mareshes and waters and had in the front the riuer of Garillan which the Auncients called Liri albeit it was not so deepe in that place but at sometymes it was passible at a forde by reason whereof and that the passage is very narrow and straite they say with good reason that S. Germayn is one of the keyes of the kingdom of Naples he sent also bandes and trowpes to the next mounteynes to keepe the way of Cancella But all was in vayne and in these doinges he did no other thing then keepe his minde in languishing like as the Surgeon torments his patient by applying varietie of medicines to a wound that resistes all cures and remedies for his armie already stricken with a generall terror with the onely name of the french men declared apparant tokens of pusillanimitie and faintnes And the Capteynes and leaders partly tendring the safetie of them selues and their owne estates distrusting already of the defense of the kingdom and partly desiring innouacions and new thinges began to wauer no lesse in faith then in courage Lastly all the kingdom being in insurrection it was not without feare that at their backes should happen some perillous disorder Therefore councell giuing place to cowardnes and frayle feares ouerruling resolucion and constancie of minde vnderstanding after the taking of Mount S. Iohn that the Mareshal de Gie was at hand with three hundred launces and two thowsand footemen they discamped with shame from S. Germain and retyred to Capua with such confusion and feare that they lefte by the way viij great peeces of artillerie without garde giuing thennemie a meane to helpe forwarde their destruction with their owne weapons This citie the newe king reapposing much in the amitie of the towne towards the house of Aragon and in the strong seate of the place he hoped to defend and to keepe also Naples and Caietta not making distribucion of his forces to other places The french men went after but dispersed and out of order marching more after the manner of trauellers then like men of warre and without all regard either to keepe vnder their enseignes or to be ruled by the direction of their Capteynes they tooke libertie to goe where so euer they thought to find pillage And so neare was the encounter of these two armies that one part of them most often lodged the nightes in places where the Aragons were dislodged in the mornings Neither in Capua was any greater demonstracion of vertue or fortune for that after Ferdinand had there bestowed his armie much diminished in numbers since the retraict from S. Germain he was sent for by letters from the Queene expressing that since the losse of S. Germain there were such murmures and mutinies within Naples as without his presence there was manifest daunger of a generall tumult for which cause he went thither with a smal company by his presence to giue impediment to the perill present promising to returne eftsoones to Capua the day following Iohn Iacques Triuulce to whome he had left the garde of the citie had secretly sent to the french king for a Heralde to come vnder sewertie to speake with him which being graunted Triuulce with certeine gentlemen of Capua went to
nor faction of men sparing to ronne to behold him as if he had bene their patrone and first founder of the citie yea there was a plentifull and willing presence of those who either in them selues or in their auncestors had bene raysed to honors and estates by the house of Aragon with this affluence and concurse of people after he had visited the great Church he was ledd because new castell was yet to thennemies to be lodged in the castell Capua the auncient resort and residence of the kinges of Fraunce hauing with a wonderfull course of felicitie farre aboue the example of Iulius Caesar rather vanquished then seene his enemie and that with so ready fortune and facilitie that during the whole expedicion he neuer had neede to display one pauilion or tent much lesse to breake a launce And touching helpes and prouisions he had so great plenty and superfluitie that his armie at sea prepared with so great expenses being caried by violence of wether into the yle of Corse was so long in approching the shoares of the kingdom that the king had accomplished his conquest afore there was necessitie of their seruice Thus by ciuill discordes which so long hath blinded the Princes of Italy to the great dishonor and skorne of the men of warre of that nation and common daunger and ignominie of euery region of the same was transferred one of the most goodly and mighty partes of Italy and of the Empire of Italy to an Empire and gouernment of a nation beyond the mountes for albeit olde Ferdinand was borne in Spaine yet for that from his youth he had his trayning in Italy either king or the sonne of a king and holding no other principallitie in any region else where togither that his sonnes and sonnes sonnes were bredd vppe in Naples I may with good right appropper them to the contrey and call them Italyans The ende of the first booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE SECOND BOOKE THE Pysans continue their rebellion against the Florentyns The french king takes the castells of Naples The Pope the Venettans and other Princes make league against the king who returning into Fraunce is fought withall neare the riuer Taro Ferdmand wynnes agayne Naples Nouarre is beseeged by the confederats The king makes peace with the Duke of Myllan and returnes into Fraunce THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE historie and discoursse of Guicciardin IN the booke before haue bene sett downe the foundacions of the french warres in Italy both out of what founteyne they spronge and with what course and mocions they had their proceedings euen to an action of conquest farre aboue the memorie and examples of all tymes and ages before But as in all powers and causes naturall this is a propertie infallible to haue their reuolucion by the same swift and violent returne where with they did rise to their exaltacion and fulnes So the french king rising with his felicitie into humors of securitie saw the declinacion of his fortune and great triumphes in the like measure and proporcion of tyme by the which he aspired to them And suffering togither the priuacion of the kingdom with the honor of his new cōquest he shewed him selfe more happy to get glorie then able to keepe it Then whilest thinges went in this course at Rome and the kingdom of Naples there kindled in an other parte of Italy sparkes of a litle fier wherein was nourished a smothering heate ordeyned to burst out to a great burning to the hurt of many but specially to the ruyne of him who by too great a desire of dominion and rule first kindled it and set it on slames for albeit the king was bownd by the contract of Florence that Pysa remeining in his handes till he had conquered the realme of Naples the iurisdiction reuenues should be administred by the Florentyns yet at his departure he had sett no order for thexecucion of his word and promise In so much that the Pysans presuming much of the Capteynes and souldiers left by the king for the gard of the citie did determine no more to returne to the obedience of Florence And therefore expulsing some of their officers and others that solicited there for the citie they made the residue prisonners with confiskacion of all their goods and confirmed wholly their rebellion both by demonstracions and actions In this reuolte to be the better able to continue it they dispatched not onely Embassadors to the king to pray him of defence and protection to their doings but also for their stay and strength more assured they recommended their cause vnder many argumentes of compassion to the cities of Syena and Lucques who being auncient ennemies to the name of Florence could heare of nothing more to their liking and gladnes then of the reuolt of the Pysans to whom in common they sent forthwith a proporcion of money and Syenna a part furnished them with an ayde of horsemen In like sort the Pysans sent Embassadors to Venice to sownde the wills of that Senat of whom albeit they were graciously receiued yet they brought away nothing but hopes dowtfull and incerteyne But they reapposed their chiefest confidence and soundacion in the Duke of Myllan for that as he was the first breeder of their rebellion so they hoped he would not fayle to support them with succors countenance and councell The Duke albeit he made other showes and demonstracions to the Florentyns yet he solicited secretly the confirmacion of this reuolt and breathing courage into them with many offers perswacions promises he communicated presently with the Genovvays to furnish the Pysans with armor and municions and to sende to them a commissioner with three hundred footemen There hath bene auncient quarell betwene the Florentyns and Genovvays rising at first by the conquest of Pysa and continued by many degrees of displeasures both for buying the port of Lyuorne of their Duke Tomasin Fregosa which they possessed and also the taking away of Pietra Santa and Serazena The memorie of these ioyned to thoccasion offered was sufficient to arme them with a wonderfull readines to doe all thinges that might annoy the Florentyns occupying euen already many of their places in the contrey of Lunigiane and were become Lords of the borders of Pietra Santa vnder cooller of a letter obteined from the french king for the restitucion of certein goods confisked The Florentyns complayning of these actions at Myllan were aunswered by the Duke that according to the contract and capitulacions which he had with them of Genes he could not well doe any thing to the restraint and impediment of them And laboring to content them with wordes and diuersitie of hopes he forbare not with a studie more secret and sutle to practise and execute the contrary as one that nourished an ambicious expectacion to draw Pysa to his obedience if the Florentyns did not eftsoones recouer it a thing much desired by him no lesse for the qualitie of the citie then
camps were able to resist them which thinges with many others of other nature he would assure that he did not foretell by discourse humane or knowledge of the Scriptures but simply did foresee them by reuelacion diuine In these wonders warnings he would sometimes touch the mutacion of the state of Florence At that time he detested publikely the forme of gouernment agreed vpon in the parliament affirming that it was the will and pleasure of God that they did erect a pollicy mearely popular in sort that there should not be power in a few citisens to alter nether the sewertie nor the libertie of the residue inso much that for the reuerēce of one so great a name ioined to the desire of many such as were of thother opinion should not be able to resist so great an inclinacion Therfore this matter being many times propounded and debated it was lastly determined that there should be made a councel of all the citisens wherein should haue no accesse so it was spredd in many places in Italy the dreggs of the people but onely such as by the auncient lawes of the citie might participate in the gouernment In this councell should not be hādled nor they should not dispose of other things then of the election of all the Magistrates for the city for the demeane of the confirmacion of prouisions of money together with all the lawes ordeyned before by the Magistrates and other councells more priuat and straite And to th ende that thoccasions of ciuill discordes shoulde be taken away and the spiritts of euery one the more assured it was prohibited by decree publike according to thexample of thaueniens not to remember the errors and transgressions committed in the tymes past in th affayres of estate vpon which foundacions might perhapps haue bene constituted a gouernment well regulated and established if at the same time they had introduced all the ordenances which then came into the consideracion of wise men But such thinges being not able to be deliberated without the consent of many who for the memorie of thinges past were full of suspicions it was iudged and determined that for the present the grand councell shoulde be established as a ground and foundacion of the newe libertie referring to accomplish that which wanted vntill a better oportunitie of time and vntill by the meane of experience the publike vtilitie should be knowne of such as had no capacitie to knowe it by reason and iudgement This was the course condicion of th affayres of Tuskane But in this meane while the french king after he had with a ready fortune conquered the citie of Naples to giue a full perfection to his victorie he had principally to looke to remoue two impediments The one how he might get new castel and the castell of the egge which are two fortresses of Naples holding good yet for Ferdinand but for the towne of S. Vincent builded for the garde of the hauen he had it without much resistance his other consideracion was how he might reduce the whole kingdom to his obedience In which two thinges fortune still followed him with a full sayle of her fauors for new castel the habitacion of the kinges builded vpon the banke or shoares of the sea by the couetousnes and cowardise of fiue hundred launceknightes holding garrison there was rendred with condicion that they might departe in safetie with all the goods and moueables they were able to cary In this castell was founde great quantities of vittells whereof the king without consideracion to that might happen made prodigall liberalities to certeyne of his owne people And touching the castell called the egge built within the sea vpon a rocke afore tymes parcell of the firme lande but now deuided from it by the operacion of Lucullus was ioyned with a narrow bridge to the next brinkes or shoares of Naples they within the rocke seeing them selues battered without ceasing with a perpetuall furie of thartillerie which might well shake the walls but nothing moue the naturall rocke agreed to yeld vp the place if within viij dayes they were not succored The Barons also and gouernors of communalties would goe many dayes iorneyes to meete the french capteines and companies of souldiers sent into sundry partes of the realme whose example in yelding and the humanitie and inclinacion of the french in receiuing them bredd such a generall minde of reuolt in cities fortes and peeces particular that almost all the places of strength were rendred by those that kept them either with no resistance at all or at least without perill or difficultie yea the rocke of Caietta notwithstanding it was made stronge with men vittells municion and other thinges necessary for defence yet after a few light assaults it yelded to the discression of the victors This selicitie of the king followed with so full streame that within ▪ very few dayes and with a wonderfull facilitie all the kingdom was brought into his obedience except the yle of Yschia the castells of Brondusia and Galipoly in Povvylla and in Calabria the rocke of Regge scituate in the poynt of Italy right ouer against Sicile the citie holding for the king and except also Turpia and Mantia who in the beginning displayed the banners of Fraunce but refusing to liue vnder the subiection of others then the king who had already disposed them to certeyne of his fauorits they chaunged councell and returned to their first Lorde The like was done within a litle tyme after by the citie of Brondusa to the which the french king hauing sent no men but vsing negligence where was necessitie of care and councell did skarcely heare their Magistrates sent to him to Naples to capitulat by which occasion ioyning with thoportunitie offered those that kept the castells in the name of Ferdinand had good meane by perswasions to draw agayne the citie to the deuocion of the Aragons by which example also the citie of Otrante lately declared for the french no creature sent thether to receiue them continued not long in their affection All the Lordes and Barons of the realme except Alphonso Daualo Marquiss of Pisouire who left within new castell by Ferdinand was gone to him when he perceiued the inclinacion of the launceknightes to yeld and except two others who for that the french king had giuen away their estates were fled into Sicile came to doe homage to the new king who desiring to assure wholly so great a conquest by the way of concorde called afore him vnder safe conduit afore he had wonne the rocke of the egge Dom Federyk who aswell for that he had remeyned many yeares in the court of Fraunce in the tyme of the kinges father as also for that he touched his maiestie in parentage was much fauored of all the Lordes of Fraunce The king told him he would indue Ferdinand leauing all that was his in the realme of Naples with estates and large reuenues in Fraunce And touching him to recompense
able to fight with all the men of warre in Italy knit in one strength M. de Pienes was a supporter of his opinion for that he thought the king would bestow vppon him the iurisdiction of Pysa and Lyuorne There was debating also at Siena of the gouernment of that citie for that many of the orders of the people and of the reformers to plucke downe the brotherhood of the order of Montenoue made instance that erecting a newe forme of gouernment the garde which they of Montenoue kept at the publike pallaice might be taken away and the place supplyed by a garde of french men vnder the leading of M. de Ligny And albeit this councell was reiected in the councell of the king as a thing of litle continuance and impertâ—â—ent to the time present yet M. de Ligny who had layed a vayne plott to make him selfe Lorde of it obteyned that the king woulde take into his protection that citie vnder certeine condicions binding him self to the defense of it and all the circumstances except Montpulcian which he sayd he would not intangle him selfe withall neyther for the Florentyns nor for the Sienoys The communaltie of Siena albeit no mencion was made in the capitulacion chused by the consent of the king M. de Ligny for their Capteine promising him twenty thowsand duckats by yeare vpon condicion that he would keepe there a Lieftenant with three hundreth footemen for the gard of the place which strength he left there coolled out of such as were of the frenche armie The vanitie of which deliberacions appeared immediatly for that the order of Montnoue hauing eftsoones reconquered with armes their authoritie accustomed chassed out of Siena the garde and gaue leaue to M. de Lysle whome the king had left there for his Embassador But there were now great stirres and emocions in Lombardye for the Venetians and Lodovvyk Sforce who had euen then receiued from thEmprour with much solemnitie the priuileages of inuestiture of the Duchie of Myllan and made publike homage and oth of fidelitie to thEmbassadors that brought them raysed great preparacions to stoppe the king that he should not returne into Fraunce or at least to assure the Duchie of Myllan to come to the which he must passe ouer so great a circuit and space of contreyes To these endes euery of them readdressed their forces and leauied of new partely in common and partly at expenses separat many men at armes obteyning after many difficulties that Iohn Bentyuole whome they had taken into their common pay should sticke to the league with the citie of Bolognia Lodovvyk armed at Genes for the garde of the same citie tenne gallyes at his owne charges and foure great shippes at the common expenses of the Pope the Venetians and him selfe And being at the poynt to execute that whereunto he was bownd by the couenants of the confederacion touching the towne of Ast he sent into Iermany to leauy two thowsande footemen and conuerted to that enterprise Galeas S. Seuerin with seuen hundred men at armes and three thowsand footemen in so much as assuring him of the taking of that towne and to achieue all thinges to his honor he was naturally very insolent in his prosperities he sent this message to the Duke of OrleaÌ„ce the more to terrifie him That hereafter he should for beare to vsurpe the title of Duke of Myllan which title Charles his father had taken since the death of Philipp Maria Visconte That he suffered not newe bandes to passe out of Fraunce into Italy That he caused to returne home againe such as were already within the towne of Ast And for th assurance of these things that he should put the towne of Ast into the haÌ„ds of Galeas S. Seuerin in whom the king might reappose trust aswel as in him hauing the yere before bene receiued by the king into the brotherhood order of S. Michell in Fraunce he vaunted much in the same kind of boasting of his forces of the prouisions the confederats made to make head against the king in Italy the great preparacions of the king of Romaines and the king of Spayne to moue warre beyonde the Mountes But the Duke of Orleance was made nothing affrayd with these vaine threates and being well assured that there was made a newe confederacion he studied to fortifie Ast and solicited with great instance to send out of Fraunce new supplies and companies who vnderstanding that they were to be imployed in the proper succors of the kinges person began with great diligence to passe the mountes By reason where of the Duke of Orleans not fearing his enemies marcheth into the fielde and takes in the Marquisdom of Saluce the towne castel of Galfinieres which Anthony Maria of S. Seuerin possessed which being knowen to Galeas who had a litle before taken certeine small villages retyred with his armie to Anon A towne of the Duchie of Myllan neare to Ast neither hauing hope to be able to offende nor feare to be offended But the nature of Lodovvyk alwayes inclining to entangle him selfe with enterprises which demaund great expenses and yet of a condicion to flee and feare yea euen in greatest necessities thinges that brought costes and charges was the cause to commit his estate into right great daungers for that by reason of his very spare and needy payments a very fewe footemen came out of Iermany and for the same nygardnes the bandes that were with Galeas were diminished euery day where of the contrary were increased continually the supplyes that came out of Fraunce who for that they were called to the reskew of the kinges person marched with such diligence that the Duke of Orleans had already assembled three hundreth launces three thowsand Svvyzzers footemen and three thowsande Gascoyns And albeit the king by a commaundement speciall and peremptory had aduertised him that absteyning from all enterprise he should stande vpon continuall readines and preparacion to meete his maiestie when so euer he should be sent for yet it is harde for a man not to make reckoning of his proper profit and to resist it he determined to accept thoccasion to possesse the citie of Nouare wherein he was offered to be put by two of the Opizins gentlemen of the same citie hating much the Duke of Myllan for that aswell vpon them as many others of the towne he had with vniust sentence and iudgement vsurped certeine condutes of waters and other possessions Thenterprise and the manner of it being resolued vpon the Duke of Orleans passed by night the riuer of Pavv at the bridge Sturo within the iurisdiction of the Marquis of Montferat hauing in his company the Marquis of Saluce he was receiued by the conspirators of thenterprise into the towne with all his forces and founde no resistance And from thence making suddeine incursions with parte of his horsemen eueÌ„ vntil Vigeneua it was beleued that if he had drawne his whole armie with speede towards Myllan there would
comming to the fight fortune would be so equall that the french king should neither be victor nor vanquished The morning following the king departed with his armie before day without sownd of trompets to couer his discamping as much as he could And for that day he was not followed by th armie of the confederats who though they had had will to haue pursued him yet they should haue found impediments in the waters of the riuer which were so much increased by raynes that fell in the night that there was no possibilitie of passage for the day following Only at the declining of the Sunne passed ouer not without daunger the Count Caiazze with two hundred light horsemen following the trace of the french men who marched the right way towards Plaisance he gaue them the day following many alarms and impediments And yet all wearied and trauelled as they were they kept their way without disorder the villages refreshing them with pleÌ„tie of vittells partly for feare to receiue hurt by them and partly by the meane of Triuulce who skouring before for the same effect with the light horsemen of th armie made perswasions to men sometimes by threates sometimes with his authoritie great in that Duchie with all sortes but more great with the famulie of the Guelffes The armie of the league which remoued the day after the discamping of the french and but litle disposed specially the prouisors of the Venetians to put them selues any more in the arbytrement of fortune came neuer so neare them as to annoy them with any litle discommoditie But being lodged the second day vpon the riuer of â—rebia a litle beyond Plaisance the Svvrzzers two hundreth launces and almost all the artillerie remeyning betwene the riuer the citie of Plaisance for the commoditie of incamping the sludds were so great by reason of the raines falling in the night that notwithstanding their extreame diligence it was impossible that either the footemen or horsemen coulde passe but at high daies and then with difficultie although the waters began to abate notwithstanding all which oportunities fauoring th armie of the league yet they neuer executed any action against the french but a farre of nor yet the Count de Caiazze who was entred within Plaisance for suspicion of reuolt or tumult which suspicion was not altogether without occasion for that it was beleeued that if the king according to the councell of Tryuulce had displaied his enseignes vnder the name of Frauncis the litle sonne of Iohn Galeas the Duchie would easily haue falne into some mutacion so plawsible was the name of him whom they held for their lawful Lord and so hatefull the remembrance of the vsurper and of speciall importance the credit and friendships of Triuulce But the king in whom was setled no other impression then to passe on would not be intangled with newe practises but followed his way with diligent and speedie marche finding great want of vittells after the first dayes trauel and in all places the sortes peeces well garded Lodovvyk hauing distributed what into Tortone vnder Iasper S. Seuerin surnamed Frecasse and what into Alexandria many horsemen with twelue hundred launceknightes which he had drawne from the campe of Nouaro After the king was passed Trebia his armie was alwayes vexed in the tayle by the Count Caiazze who had ioyned to his light horsemen siue hundreth launceknightes of the garrison of Plaisance not being able to obteine to be sent to him from the army all the residue of the light horsemen and foure hundreth men at armes for that the Venetian Commissioners warned by the perill at the battell of Taâ—o would giue no consent eftsoones to hazard their forces At last the french men taking when they were neare to Alexandria their way more high towards the mouÌ„taine where the riuer of Tanaro ronnes with shallowest water were brought without losse of men in eight remoues or soiornings of the campe afore the walls of Ast In which citie after the king was entred he dispersed his men of warre into the champion with intencion to encrease his armie and to abide in Italy vntill he had succored Nouaro And the campe of the league which had pursued him to the contrey of Tortone dispairing now to vexe him more went ioyned it selfe to the companies of Lodovvyk Sforce beseeging the sayd citie of Nouaro which euen nowe began to suffer great skarcetie of vittels for that by the Duke of Orleans nor his people had bene vsed any diligence for prouision which by reason of the fertilitie of the contrey they might haue done in great plentie and at easie rate but like men either blinded with securitie or else of litle pollecie they neuer considered of the dauÌ„gers till the meane of the remedie were past consuming without sparing all the store of vittells which they found there About this season returned to the king those Cardinals and capteines who with ill successe had bene at thenterprise of Genes for after the kinges armie by sea had taken the towne of Spetia it set vpon Rapalle and possessed it easily But there yssued out of the port of Genes a nauie of eight light gallies one carracke and two barkes of biskayes which by night put on lande seuen hundreth footemen who without any difficultie tooke the borow of Rapalle with the french garrison that were within and then accoasting the french nauie retired to the golffe after long fight they remeyned victors taking and burning all their vessells the Capteines made prisoners and the place by this victorie made more renowmed for that in they yeare before th Arragons were there defeated Neither was this aduersitie recompensed by the armie that went by land who guided by the east riuer to Valdibisague and so to the suburbs of Genes found them selues deceiued in their hopes that in Genes would rise tumults And therefore vnderstanding of the spoyle and losse of the nauie by sea they tooke way with no lesse speede then feare to the mounteyne sharpe and vneasie and from thence discended to the valley of Pozzeuere which is of the other part of the citie from whence notwithstanding their trowpes were stronge and great by the concurse of paysants and other populars whom the Duke of Sauoye had sent in their fauors they drew with the same diligence towards Pyemont In the action of this enterprise it is certeine that if they within the towne had not bene restrained from yssuing forth for dowt least the faction of Fregosa woulde make some innouacion they had wholly broken the french armie and put them to flight The horsemen also of Vitelli comen now to Chiauere vnderstanding the successe great disorder of those with whom they went to ioyne in strength retired with no lesse hast then daunger to Serezana In so much that except Spetia all the places of that riuer that had bene occupied by the banished reappealed or called againe forthwith the Genovvays as did in like sort
lac confyning vpon the territorie of Cortonne with commoditie of vittells for th armie yet they consented to neuer one of the demaundes notwithstanding the Cardinall Askanius made in the name of the Duke of Myllan great instance and the Pope commaunding no lesse by writts vehement and full of threats All this was for that since the taking of Corciana the Florentyns lending them money and giuing yearly pension to Guido and Radolpho chiefe of the Baillons and lastly hauing taken into their pay Iohn Pavvle sonne to Radolpho they were of their side conioyned with them Besides these they were estraunged from thamitie of the Pope for that they feared he stoode fauorable and inclined to the cause of their aduersaries or at least by thoccasion of their diuisions they suspected that he aspired to put absolutely that citie vnder the obedience of the Church In this time Pavvle Vrsin who with three score men at armes of the olde companie of Virginio had remeyned many dayes at Montpulcian and afterwards was gon to the borow of Pieua interteyned by the direction of Peter de medicis A practise in the citie of Cortone with intencion to execute it at such time as the bandes of Virginio should approch whose numbers nor vertue aunswered not the first plots But during that respitt of time the practise being discouered which was builded vppon the foundacion and meane of one of the exiles of base condicion one part of their generall groundes deuises began to fayle and withall many great impediments to appeare for the Florentyns in whom was alwayes nourished a carefull pollicie to prouide for daungers leauing in the contrey of Pysa three hundreth men at armes two thowsand footemen had sent to encampe neare Cortone two hundred men at armes 2. thowsand footemen vnder the leading of the Count Riuucce de Marciane whom they had made Mercenarye in their pay And to thend the bandes of the Syennoys should haue no oportunitie to ioyne with Virginio accordinge to the practise betweene them they sent to Poggi imperiall vpon the borders of the contrey of Sienna vnder the gouernment of Guidobalde of Montfeltre Duke of Vrbyn whom they had interteyned into their pay a litle before three hundreth men at armes and fiueteene hundreth footemen besides many banished from Sienna with whom they adioyned to keepe the citie in greater feare But after Virginio had giuen many assaultes to Gualda where Charles his bastard sonne receiued a wound with a small shot and hauing embrased the moneyes sent secretely to him as was supposed by the Fulignians he raysed his campe without mention or respect to thinterests of the Perusins and marched to the tabernacles and so to Panicale in the contrey of Perousa making newe instance that they would be declared against the Florentyns A thing which they did not only deny to him but also for the discontentment they had of his actions at Gualda they cōpelled him almost with threatnings to depart out of their territories In so much that Peter and he going first with foure hundreth horse to Orsaia a towne neare to Cortone hoping that in that citie which to auoyde the harmes of the souldiers had refused to receiue the men at armes of the Florentyns they should find some tumult After they saw all thinges in quiet and stabilitie they passed ouer Chianes with three hundreth men at armes and three thowsand footemen but the most part in confusion ill order because they had bene driuen backe hauing but a very smal proporcion of money They retyred vpon the contrey of Sienna neare to Montpulcian betwene Chianciana Torrite and Asinalongue where they remeyned many dayes without other action then certeine incursions and pillages hauing the bandes of the Florentyns which passed Chianes at the bridge of Valiance in camped directly opposite vpon the hill Sansouyn and other places thereabouts Neither of the side of Bolognia as they hoped was any insurrection for that Bentyuole not determining for the interests and regardes of an other to enter warre with a common weale mighty and his neighbour refused the quarrell and the defense notwithstanding the perswacions of the confederats to whom he made many excuses and vsed no lesse delayes neither was he curious to consent that many demonstracions should be made by Iulian de medicis who being come from Bolognia laboured to stirre vp the frendes which they were accustomed to haue in the Mounteynes of that contrey Amongest the consederats there was not one consent of will and inclinacion for that it was very acceptable to the Duke of Myllan that the Florentyns should be vexed with those trauells thereby to be lesse able for the matters of Pysa but it nothing pleased him that P. de medicis so greatly iniuried by him should returne to Florence notwithstanding to declare that hereafter he would wholly depend vpon his authoritie he had sent to Myllan in solemne order his brother the Cardinall And touching the Venetians they liked not to haue the burden of that warre imposed vppon them and much lesse to embrase alone the quarrell Besides the Duke and they were buysie to leauye prouisions to expulse the french out of the kingdom of Naples In which respectes fayling in Peter and Virginio not onely the hopes which they exspected but also the moneyes greatly diminishing to enterteyne their bandes of footemen and horsemen the necessities of their estates and consideracion of their proper safeties caused them to withdraw to Bagno Rapulano in the contrey of Chiusa a citie subiect to the Siennoys where not many dayes after Virginio being drawne by his destinie arriued Camylla Vitelli and M. de Gemel sent by the french king to interteyne him into his pay and leade him into the kingdom of Naples where the king desired to serue his purpose of him hearing of the defection of the Colonnoys This offer albeit many of his frendes impugned it aduising him rather to follow the seruice of the confederats who made great solicitacion to him or else to become for thArragons was embrased and accepted by him either for that he hoped by that meane to be more able to recouer the landes and contrey of Alba and Taille couss or else remembring eftsoones how thinges hapned in the losse of the kingdom and seeing the authority of the Collonnoys his auncient aduersaries was so great with Ferdinand that there was no confidence of reconciliacion and much lesse to be readdressed into his former greatnes or lastly for that he was moued as him selfe did assure with a discontentment which he had of the Princes consederat fayling to accomplish those promises which they made to him to minister fauors to Peter de medicis Virginio then entred pay with the french king receiuing cōtract aswel for him as for others of the house of the Vrsins for six hundreth men at armes notwithstanding vnder this obligacion such be the frutes of those that once haue made their faith suspected to sende his sonne Charles into
proper condicion much lesse to refurnish expenses extraordinary onely not to lose thopportunitie of the citadell they prayed the aydes of their frendes hauing foure thowsand of the Venetians foure thowsand of the Genovvays and Luckoyes and foure thowsand of the Duke of Myllan who vsing at the same time his ordinary shiftes and practises whereunto was giuen litle faith he solicited faintly to enter with the Florentyns into firme intelligence and amitie was already agreed of condicions with their Embassadors It can not in any construction cary likelihood of truth that Monsr de Ligny or the Capteine or any other would haue vsed so great transgression without the kings will and liking seeming chiefly the matter was so much to his disauauntage for that albeit the Capteine had capitulated that the citie of Pysa should continue in the obedience of the crowne of Fraunce yet it remeyned manifestly at the deuocion of the confederats and for that the restitucion tooke not effect the french men that were left in the realme of Naples were naked of the succors of men and money promised in the contract of Thuryn The Florentyns obseruing diligētly the action of all things albeit in the beginning they made great dowt were possest at last with this opinion that all was done contrary to the will of the king A thing which might seeme incredible to all others that knew not what was his nature nor what were the condicions of his wit and customes nor how litle authoritie he bare amongest his people And lastly how easily men are emboldened against a Prince that is falne into indignitie and contempt After the Pysans were entred by heapes into the citadell they razed it flat with the earth And knowing their owne strength not sufficient to beare out the desense and protection of their cause they sent at the same instant Embassadors to the Pope to the king of Romans to the Venetians to the Duke of Myllan to the Genovvays to the Syennoys and to the Lucquoys praying succors of euery one by particular sute discourse but with greater instance of the Venetians Duke of Myllan towards whom they nourished a franke inclinacion to transferre the iurisdiction of their citie wherin they had this cogitacion and seeming that they were constrayned not so much to looke to the preseruacion of their libertie as to eschew the necessitie to returne eftsoones into the power of the Florentyns Their hopes also were more partiall in him then in any of the residue for that besides he was the first stirrer of them to rebellion by reason of neighbourhood yet reaping from the other confederats no other thing then generall hopes they had alwayes receiued from him present ready succors But the Duke notwithstanding his desire and ambicion were importunat stoode dowtfull whether he shoulde accept it for feare least the other confederats woulde grow deuided by it in whose councells was now begonne to treate of the affayres of Pysa as of a common cause By reason whereof some times he woulde desire the Pysans to deferre and sometimes aduised them that it might be done in publike action in the name of the Sainct Seueryns and he to disclose that all was done to his profit when he should see his time But in the ende desire of dominion is troublesom till the appetite be satisfied when he saw the french king was gone out of Italy and finding withall that his necessities occasions with the confederats were not now so great he determined to embrase it But this inclinacion of the Pysans began to grow colde for the great hopes they had to be succored by the Senat of Venice and withall they had this councell of others that more easily might they defend their estate with the ayde of many then to stand vpon the succors of one alone finding by this meane a more greater hope to menteyne their libertie with full protection According to these consideracions after they had obteyned the citadel they labored to bring to their defense strēgth the fauors and succors of euery one for the furtherance of which intencion the disposicion of the estates of Italy serued to good purpose for the Genovvays for the malice they bare to Florence and the Siennoys and Lucquoys for hatred and feare were alwayes to minister ayde to them in some sort wherein to proceede with more resolucion and order they solicited to make a contract with obligacions resolut for that effect To the Venetians and Duke of Myllan interteyning one desire to be their soueraigne Lordes it could not but be intollerable that they returned to the rule of the Florentyns And with the Pope and thEmbassadors of the Spanish much helped them their common desire to plucke downe the Florentyns as being too much inclined to the doings of Fraūce So that hauing bene graciously heard in euery place and obteyned of thelect Emprour the priuiledge of confirmacion of their libertie they brought from Venice and Myllan the same promises to preserue them in their libertie which they had made afore with one common consent to helpe to deliuer them from the french And the Pope in the name and consent of all the Potentats of the league incouraged them by a special signeture with promise that they should be mightely defended of euery one But in these great promises hopes the most apparant succors came from the Venetians and Duke of Myllan the Duke augmenting the number of men that were there first and the Senat refurnishing them with a proporcion sufficient An action wherein if they had both continued the Pysans had not bene constrayned to sticke more to the one then to the other of them by that meane also the common benefit had bene more easily preserued But as in all things not followed with the same industrie wherein they are begon the ende is lesse then the exspectacion so it hapned to the Duke of Myllan who fearing alwayes great expenses and being inclined of nature to proceede in all actions with apparances and shiftes made his accompt that the iurisdiction of Pysa coulde not but fall into his handes and therefore beganne with smal proporcions to furnish thinges which the Pysans demaunded of him In which distrust and incerteintie of dealing they tooke occasion to transfer all their inclinacions to the Venetians in whom they foūd a plentifull releeffe in all their necessities without any sparing from whence proceded that a few monethes after the french had redeliuered the citadell the Senat of Venice required by the generall and importunat sutes of the Pysans determined to take the citie into their protection the Duke of Myllan rather perswading them to it then making any show of disliking This was done without the priuitie of the other confederats nor once communicating with them either generally or a parte notwithstanding in the beginning they had giuen them comfort to send bandes of men to their succors but nowe they alleaged that they were no more bownde to
possessed by the Viccairs of Romagna and withall to giue him presently thirtie thousand duckattes vnder this cooller that he was constrained to interteine a greater force for the gard of his person as though to knit himselfe with the French king were to stirre vp many of the Potentates in Italie to seeke to hurt and oppresse him For th execution of these couenantes both the king began to make payment of the money and the Pope committed the action of the diuorce to the bishop of Setto his Nuncio and to tharchbishops of Parys and Roan And albeit in the trauerse of the cause the kinges wyfe impugned the iudgement yet in the ende holding for no lesse suspected the consciences of the Iudges then the might and greatnes of her aduersarie she tooke comfort in her innocencie and disclaimed her suite receiuing for thinterteinment of her person the Duchie of Berry with thirtie thousande Frankes of Reuenue And so the diuorce confirmed by sentence of the Iudges there rested nothing els exspected for the dispensing and and accomplishing of the new mariage but the comming of Caesar Vorgia lately of a Cardinall and Archbishop of Valence become a soldiour and Duke of Valentinoys the king hauing giuen him a companie of a hundred Launces and twentie thousand Frankes pension and for his title of dukedome he indued him with Valence a Citie of Danphyne with twentie thousand Frankes of Reuenue he embarqued at Ostia vppon the Gallyes which the king sent him and arryued about the end of the same yeare at the french Court where he entred with a pomp and pride incredible and brought with him the Cardinalles hatt for George Amboise Archbishop of Roan Who hauing alwayes affore participated in the daungers and fortunes of the king helde with him great authoritie grace and reputation This new Duke albeit he was receiued of the king with great honour and all other offices of court yet his manner of dealing was not well lyked in the beginning for that according to the direction and councell of his father he denied that he had brought with him the bull of dispensacion hoping that the desire to obteine it would make the king more easie to assist his plottes and purposes then would do the remembrance that he had receiued it vsing this reason that there is nothing endureth so small a tyme as the memorie of benefittes receiued the more great they bee the more commonly are they recompenced with ingratitude But the bishop of Setto reueiling the truth secretly to the king who making it sufficient to godwarde that the bull was dispatched and ratified consommated the mariage openly with his new wyfe without making more demaundes for the bull the same being the cause that the Duke could no longer keepe from him the bull Authentyke and iustefied And finding out after by suttle inquirie that the bishop of Setto had reuealed the matter he caused him soone after by secret meanes to dye of poyson the vnfortunate bishop not remembring that in matters of estate betweene princes he that discloseth his secret to another worketh to himself the occasion of his death The king being now in some stabilitie of minde by his new mariage began to be carefull to renue leagues amities with his neighbours making presentlie a firme peace with the king of Spaine who bearing now no more regarde to the thinges of Italie called home all his Embassadours remayning there except him that laye resident with the Pope and readiourned Consaluo into Spaine with all his regiment leauing to Federick all those peeces in Calabria which he had holden till that day he had a great deale more trouble to accorde with the king of Romains who was newly discended into Burgongny by occasion of some commocions stirring there being for that expediciō ayded with a round summe of money by the Duke of Myllan in whom preuayled muche this kinde of persuacion that eyther the warre which hee should make vppon the french king would turne him from thenterprise of Italy or at least if any agreement succeeded betweene them he should be comprehēded in it as the king of Romains had assuredly promised him But at last after much discourse of reasonings and meetings the king made a new peace with Tharchduke by the which were to bee rendered vnto him the places of the countrey of Artoys a thing which to th ende it might bring effect and profit to his sonne the king of Romains consented to make truce with him for many monethes without making mencion of the Duke of Myllan against whom he seemed at that tyme much discontented for that he had not alwayes satisfied his infinit demaunds of money Lastly the french king ratifiyng the peace made with the king of Englande by his predecessor reiected all solicitacions and suites made to him to receiue the Duke of Myllan to any composicion who for his part albeit he protested large offers offices vsed no lesse corrupcions to induce him yet all his industries and practises were vaine in the kings sight who to lay a more sure foūdaciō of the warre pretended sought how he might at one time tie to him in suertie of amitie the Venetians Florentyns and therefore he required with great importunities that ceassing to vexe the Pisans the Venetians would put Pisa into his hands whereunto the rather to draw the Florentyns to consent he offred secretly to restore it to thē within a short tyme This practise being founde full of many difficulties and concurring in it diuers endes and intrestes was for many monethes debated with delayes for that the Florentyns holding it necessarie that in that case they should make aliance with the french king and fearing by the remembrance of thinfidelitie of Charles the present busines should suffer no lesse breach of promyse in the king raigning coulde not agree amongst themselues nor consent in vnitie of opinion and councell wherein one reason of their disagreement was that their citie was vnquietly tossed betweene thambicion of some of the greatest Rulers and the vnbridled libertie of the gouernment popular and being reapposed by reason of the warre of Pisa vppon the Duke of Myllan the whole citie was falne into such generall diuision that it was harde to deliberat in peace and quiet vppon matters of importance some of the principall citizens desiring the victorie to the french king and others of the contrary bearing their whole affections to the Duke of Myllan The Venetians also notwithstanding all other difficulties had bene ouercome which might hinder the accorde had yet determined not to consent to put Pisa into a third hande hoping that for the regarde of the repayment of their charges and to leaue Pisa with lesse dishonor they should obteine better condicions in the negociacion that was holden at Ferrara which was vehemently solicited by Lodovvyk both for feare least the deputacion of Pisa falling to the french both those common weales would knit with the king and also hoping that the
Pisa it stoode possible to speedie and readie succours thimportance also of thenterprise required not the losse of so much tyme In so much as there remeyned now no more to get but Pisa which was an enterprise very hard according to the discourse of suche as founded thinges with discression aswell for the fortresse of the towne as for the numbers vertue and resolucion of the men that were within it For albeit there were within Pisa no forreine souldiours other then Gurlyn de Rauenna with some very small troupes who comming at first in the paye of the Venetians remeyned still possessed of that seruice after their regiment was withdrawne yet there were no small numbers of Citizens and Paisantes well woorthie of accompt both for that by a continuall experience of fyue yeares they were made seruiceable and fitte for the warre and also they nourished such an immoueable resolucion of minde not to returne eftsoones vnder the power of the Florentyns that they held for nothing all other aduersities how greeuous so euer they were And albeit there were no ditches nor trenches before the walles of the citie yet were they very thicke of auncient building with stones so wel couched by the facultie of the lyme and sande proper to that countrey that their resistaunce was more mightie against thartillerie then is in the common sort of walles and by that benefit affore they were beaten flat with the earth the defendantes had good time and leasure to reenforce and reedefie their Rampiers But these defences considered with all the other strengthes of the Citie coulde not staye the disposicion of the Florentyns who being determined to assalte it were styrred to it the rather by Pavvle Vitelly and Rinucce de Marciano who gaue no small hopes to take it within fyfteene dayes And hauing mustred together a strength of tenne thousande footemen with many Guidons of horsemen and drawne together according to direction many other great prouisions Pavvle planted his Camp there the last of Iuly not as many aduised him and the Florentyns desired on that side to Arne to intercept the succours that might come from Lucqua but on the other side the Ryuer right ouer against the bastillion and Towre of Stampace wherein he occupied this reason that eyther in taking that fortresse he might the easelier cary the towne or in respect of the great commoditie of vittels brought from the Boroughes about the hilles or at least by some speciall foresight or coniecture that he had that the Pisans not suspecting the seege to be planted on that side had not begunne any Rampyer there as they had done on the other side The battery conteining twentie peeces of great artillerie beat vppon the Bastilion of Stampace and a great parte of the wall aswell on the right as left hande namely from S. Anthony vntill Stampace and from thence vntill the watergate or gate towardes the sea built vppon the banke of Arne And of the contrary the Pisans ioyning their labours to their daungers trauelled day and night and with them their wiues and other sortes of women no lesse resolute and well disposed then the men In so muche that their vallour and labours were some resistance to the furie of the enemies for that in very fewe dayes they had made right against the wall that was battred a Rampier of a great height and largenes and a ditche of more then common depth being nothing amazed to see many of their companies slaine directly with the Boollet and many wounded with the reuerberacion of the same The shot also so thundred vppon the souldiours in the Camp together with the great artillerie from the towne specially from a plot forme that was vppon the Towre of Sainct Marke that the whole Camp was constrained eyther to remoue their tents to haue better couerture or els to pitche their Cabinettes within the ditches Many dayes paste in this forme of action wherein albeit they had throwne to the ground a great quantitie of the wal from S. Anthony vntill Stampace had reduced that fortresse into suche tearmes as the Generall hoped to obteine it without great difficultie yet to make the victorie more easie hee continued the battery from Stampace till the gate to the sea interteyning in the meane whyle many skyrmishes betweene the wall which they battered and the Rampyer so farre separate from the walles that Stampace remeyned whollie without the Rampier In one of these skirmishes the Count Rinucce was hurt with a shot of a Harguebuze The Generall determined that assoone as he had wonne Stampace to plant there his artillerie and also vppon the wall which hee had battred by which meanes giuing in the Flancke vppon all that syde which the Pisans defended he made his hope of the victorie almost certeyne hee made at the same tyme fall towardes the Rampier to th ende the ditche being filled the souldiours might enter with more ease one parte of the ruyne of the wall which was betweene Stampace and the Rampier which being alreadie shaked was not now supported but with proppes and matter of wood On the other syde the Pisans who in defending were altogether directed by the councell of Gurlyn had made towardes S. Anthony certeine murdering houses within the ditche to th ende that if the enemie discended it should not bee filled vp by them they had also bestowed vppon the Rampiers towardes S. Anthony muche artillerie and placed their footemen at the foote of the Rampier to th ende that thinges drawing to straytes and extremeties they might bee opposed with their proper personnes against their enemies At laste Pavvle Vitelly not willing to deferred any longer the taking of Stampace the tenth day after he had planted his Camp there gaue thassalt at the breake of day And notwithstanding his souldiours were greeuously vexed with thartillerie of the olde Citadell yet their proper vertue preuailing aboue their present daunger and the presence of their generall assuring much the victorie they tooke it both with a fortune more speedie and an action more easie then was looked for and with such a terrible amaze to the Pisans that abandoning their Rampiers they fledde in all the quarters of the Citie yea many amongest whom was Peter Fambecourte a noble citizen with fortie Crosbow shot on horsebacke which hee had in charge fledde out of Pisa many did the lyke without that the Maiestrates made resistance at the gates in so much as if others of the Camp had followed the fortune of that mourning they had caryed the towne to the great glorie of the Capteyne to whom had bene most happie the successe of that day which indeede was the beginning of his calamities for that not knowing so he excused himselfe of thoccasion that hapned without thinking of any suche and being not determyned to giue thassalt with all the Camp nor to other place then to that Towre hee sent not his men only to assalt the Rampier where they should haue founde no resistance but
demayne of the church for that some of the Viccaires payed not their tributes as they ought in homage of superioritie others payed them but with difficultie and hardnes and for the most parte out of season But they all indiffrently without licence of the Popes put themselues in paie with other Princes wherein much lesse that they made exceptions not to serue them against the church but of the contrarie they bounde themselues to protect them euen against the authoritie and armes of the Popes being so much the more plawsible to those Princes by how much they were conuenient for their seruice both for thoportunitie of their estates forces withal to hinder that the power pride of the Popes shold not swel and rise aboue order In that time the Venetiās possessed in Romagna the cities of Rauenna Ceruia which they had not many yeares before takē from the familie of Polenta a people who of Citizens priuat of Rauenna were become Tyrants ouer their coūtrey afterwardes had thinvestiture of Viccaires Faenza Furly Ymola Rimini were in the power of Viccaires perticular Cesena that had ben long cōmaūded by the family of Malateste was eftsones returned to the church Domynick the last Viccaire of the same Citie being dead without children certeine yeares before Therefore the Pope whose ambicion was greater then his doctrine pretending that those Cities for many respectes were diuolued to the sea Apostolike and that he would reestablishe and reduce them to their auncient iurisdiction but indeede had intencion to appropriat them to Caesar his sonne had contracted with the french king that when he had accomplished his conquest of the Duchie of Myllan he should contribute and communicate with him for the recouery only of those townes which were possessed by the Viccaires comprehending the Citie of Pesera whereof was Viccaire Iohn Sforce aforetyme his sonne in lawe for the greatnes of the Venetians did not suffer that those thoughtes should stretch out against them who did not aspire at that tyme to those litle townes which confining vppon the Ryuer of Po were holden by the Duke of Ferrara In so much that the Duke Valentynois assoone as he had obteyned of the king the bandes promised and ioyned them to the regiments of the church he entred into Romagna where he tooke with a speede and fortune aboue his exspectacion the Citie of Ymola by accord and that about the later end of the yeare a thousand foure hundred nientie and niene a yeare wherein Italy being afflicted with so many emotions felt also a scourage by the Turkes armies for Baiazet Ottoman hauing assailed with a mightie armie by sea the peeces which the Venetians held in Grece sent by lande an armie of six thousande horsmen to pray the countrey of Fryull and finding it without garde they ouerranne it making Pillage and burnings euen vntil Lyuence And hauing taken an innumerable proporciō of prisoners when they came neare the Ryuer of Tagliamente to returne with the more ease they reserued such as they thought they might leade with them in safetie and made cruell murders of the others And as it is a custome infallible with fortune not to let happen one mischiefe vnaccompanied so in Grece the affaires of the Venetians trayned no better successe for that Anthony Gryman Capteine generall of th armie which the Venetians opposed against thenterprise of the Turkes was accused to haue let slippe thoccasion to vanquish the enemies that issued out of the port of Sapience and an other tyme at the mouth of the Gulphe of Lepanto And after he was deposed and an other preferred to his place they acyted him to Venice recommending thinformacion of the cause to the councell of the Pregati where that cause was debated many monethes with no small exspectation of thissue his authoritie and greatnes defending him on the one side and on the other parte his accusors pursuing him with many arguments and testimonies At length standing in great likelehood to haue the vpper hande eyther by his authoritie or the great number of his parents or lastly for that in that councell compounded vppon many wisemen there should not be so much regarde to the generall bruites and slaunders which were not well proued as to a desire to vnderstande ripelie the truth of the fact the knowledge of the cause was transferred ouer to the iudgement of the great councell by the maiestrate of the aduocates of the communaltie where fauors ceassing or rather the lightnes of the multitude carying more then the grauitie of the Senators hee was in the ende passed into exile perpetuall in the I le of Essera Such and so great matters were brought to passe in the yeare 1499. But in the yeare 1500. were accomplished things of no lesse importance nor lesse worthie of memorie specially for the ful remission of that vaine and supersticious Iubile which being instituted in the beginning by the Popes to bee celebrated the Iubiley from a hundred yeares to an hundred yeares not for pleasure and pomp as the Romains did in their sportes and feastes secular but for an opinion vaine and erroneous of the health of soules for that in the same according to the fantastyke beliefe of Christian people were abolished whollie all the sinnes of those who acknowledging with true repentance their faltes committed made visitacion to the churches of Rome dedicated to the Prince of Thapostles It was afterwardes ordeined to bee celebrated from fiftie yeares to fiftie and in the ende reduced to fyue and twentie But for the more solemne memorie of his primitiue institucion the hundreth yeare was celebrated with a greater affluence of people then the others In the beginning of this yeare the Duke Valentynois obteined without resistance the Citie of Furly the Ladie of the place hauing sent her children and riches most precious to Florence and abandoned that which shee could not defende did determine to hold only the Cytadel Rocke of Furly refurnished with sufficient strength of men and Artilleries She had a vallour aboue the propertie of that sex and a resolucion more resembling a man then a woman wherewith entring the place shee studied to her great glorie howe to defende it But the Duke Valentynoys after hee had assaied in vaine to dispose her to yelde began to batter the wall of the Citadell with a great furie of artillerie the same bringing downe to the ground a great quantitie of the wall with the which the earth of the Rampier which was behinde being choked filled almost the depth of the ditche or trenche and made the entrey more easie to his souldiours By meane whereof the defendantes falling into feares and doubtes gaue place to their perils and abandoned the place seeking to retyre into the Rocke whether the Ladie made also her retraite after she had performed all that could be required in the office of a defendant But as when things are in aduersitie many occasions concurre to aduaunce the ende so as she
faith vallour good stabilitie of affection whereof Lodovvyk being iealous by many apparant cōiectures laboured much his necessities being violent to ioyne to him the foure hundred horsmen eight thousand footmen which were leauied at Myllan But as a tuine determined runnes to his end by a proporcion of degrees partes measured limited So at Nouaro the Svvyssers stirred vp by their Capteins began to mutyn taking their occasion for that their paies were not performed at the iust daies that were promised And albeit the Duke ran to the stirre in person besides his pitiful requestes and praiers training with them great occasion of compassion gaue amongest them all his siluer plate vessell desiring to rest contented but till the money came from Myllan Yet the Svvysser Capteynes fearing that if the bandes which were leauied at Myllan should bee ioyned to the Camp their treason would suffer eyther imperfection or preuention wrought so that the frenche Camp being all put into armes and readines approched the walles of Nouarro and enuyroning a great parte of the towne they dispatched certeyne horsmen to occupie the wayes betweene the Citie and the Ryuer of Thesin to cut of from the Duke all others all means to flee to Myllan But as necessitie is mightie to make men resolute so the Duke seeing more and more into his perils that almost the whole disposicion of his Camp agreed with the state of his daungers sought to issue out of Nouaro with his whole armie to feight with the enemie hauing alreadie sent out in order the light horsmen the Burgonions to begin the skirmish But he was apparantly resisted by the Svvysser Capteines who tolde him they wold not come to blowes with their parentes brethren and countreymen without the leaue of their Lordes but made as though they would departe sodeinly into their countrey The Duke not hable eyther by praiers with teares or infinit promises to practise any whit their barbarous disposicion made electiō of the best part of his aduersitie recommended himself wholly vnto them at least that they wold lead him to a place of suertie A misery so much the more lamentable by how much the cōdicion of his affaires perils cōstrained him to seeke for his safetie where he sawe nothing but apparant arguments of conspiracie against his life Wherin in this was he most miserable and vnhappie that being so neare the last action of recouerie of his estates he was not only depriued of the glorie of his victorie but also fortune is infinit in malice passed ouer to a desolacion irreparable and a ruyne whereunto remeyneth no other consolacion hope or mercie then suche as may be exspected of an enemie ambicious iniurious and reuengefull But the Svvyssers hauing contracted with the french Capteines to go their wayes not to lead him with thē albeit their crueltie wold not suffer them to graunt to his ful demaūd yet in cōpassiō they consented that he should march away amongest them taking the attyre and furniture of one of their footemen and so if he were not knowne to saue himselfe by the helpe of his fortune which condition he was driuen to accept for a last necessitie but yet it was not sufficient for his safetie For that they marching by direction thorow the midst of the french armie he was vnhappely knowne by the diligēt espiall of suche as were assigned to that charge Or more likely disclosed by some secret instruction of the Svvyssers as he marched in a Squadron on foote ▪ attired and armed disguised in all pointes as a Svvysser hasting to his last calamitie he was by that meane made prisoner A spectacle so lamentable that it brought teares into the eyes of many yea euen of the verie enemies Galeas S. Seuerin Frecassa and Anthony Maria his brethren communicated with his fortune being betraied by the same disloialtie of the Svvyssers After the Duke was takē the army wēt dispersing and no more resistāce appearing all things were seene ful of feare cōfusion which made the Cardinal Askanius who had already sent towards the Camp those bandes that were leauied at Myllan to leaue the Castle seeke his suertie in some place of better trust Many of the nobilitie of the Gebelyns folowed him who being too apparantly declared for Lodovvyk dispaired to finde pardō with the frēch But as it was set down in destiny that in the calamitie of the two brethren treason shold be mingled with euil fortune So he had determined to reappose himself somewhat the night after at Riuolta in the coūtrey of Plaisāce which is a borough apperteining at that time to Conrard de Lande a Gentleman of the Citie of Plaisance his kinsman and auncient friend The same Conrard chaunging wil with fortune sent presently to Plaisance for Charles Vrsin and Sonzin Benzon then in the paye of the Venetians to whom he deliuered the sayde Askanius and Hermes Sforce brother to the late Duke Iohn Galeas with one parte of the Gentlemen that came with him the residue being more happie or more wyse forbare their rest that night and passing further preuented their perill Askanius was immediatlye ledde prisoner to Venice but the French King iudging it necessarie for the suertie of the Duchie of Myllan to be possessed of him sent for him to Venice where finding some difficultie to deliuer him he required him with protestations and threates alleaging that he apperteyned to him in due propertie and interest for that he was taken in a countrey of his obedience A request which albeit seemed verie sharpe and vnworthie of the name of the Venetian state yet to auoyde the furie of his armies it was graunted more by compulsion then conscience and not only the person of the Cardinall deliuered but also all those of Myllan that were taken with him And withall Baptista Viscounte with other Nobles of Myllan which were withdrawne for the same occasion into the townes of Guiaradadda vnder safeconduit to remeyne there in suertie with expresse mencion of the Frenche were put into the Kinges handes for feare of the frenche armies so muche did preuayle with the Senat of Venice the terror of the french forces more then the regarde to the dignitie of their common weale The Citie of Myllan abandoned of all hope yelded to the generall calamitie and sent speedie Embassadours to the Cardinal of Amboyse to solicit for pardon he receiued them into grace and pardoned the rebellion in the name of the King but vnder this bonde to paye three hundred thousand Duckattes of the which the King acquited them afterwardes of a great parte He pardoned also other Townes that had rebelled which he taxed according to their qualitie making the victorie profitable and the transgressions of thoffendors an encrease of the Kings treasor The enterprise thus happely succeeding and the regimentes of men of warre dissolued and licenced the footemen of the foure Cantons of Svvyssers which bee more neare then
to doe and what would be the successe of things During which time the Pope and he solicited many matters with the Florentyns hoping to bring them somewhat to condiscend to their desires And on the other side he suffred many of his soldiors to go continually to the Camp of Vitellozze Who hauing assembled an armie of eight hundred horsmen and three thousande footmen and for the better reputacion of his doinges calling his armie the Camp ecclesiasticall Had since the rendring of the Citadell of Aretze occupied Mount S. Souyn Chastillon D'aretze and the Citie of Cortono with all the other townes and borowes of Valdichiano Of the which not one of them taried an assalt both for that they sawe the succours of the Florentyns not in readines and also the tyme seruing then to gather the fruites it stood not with their habilities to lose the profit of their reuenues alleaging that in that respect they were not rebels to the Florentyns seeing Peter de Medicis was in the armie for whose restoring it was saide that enterprise was made And it is not to be doubted that if Vitellozze after the taking of Cortono had sodeinly entred the countrey Casentyn that it had not bene in his power to haue marched euen to the walles of Florence both for that the french bandes were not yet come and also the most parte of the Florentyne footemen were dispersed for that almost the townes being lost the occasion of seruice ceassed and they were returned to their houses But as it hapneth oftentymes that very small impediments hinder th execution of many high enterprises so the desire he had to winne for him selfe the borow of S. Sepulcher a place neare to Citta de Castello hindred the better councell notwithstanding to couer his couetousnes he alleaged that it was not sure to leaue behinde his backe any place that was enemie Therefore he turned towardes Anguâ—aro which place albeit it only had this constancie to abide till the artilleries were planted being too weake to resist so stroÌ„g an enemie yelded to discression without excepting any thing From thence he marched to the borow S. Sepulcher which he tooke by accord hauing no better habilitie of resistance then the rest and so drawing towardes Casentyn and aryuing at the village of Rassina he sent to summon the towne of Poppy of strong scituacion but wherein were very fewe souldiours But the reputacion of the french armes supplied their weaknes want of forces for that two hundred Launces arryued alreadie neare Florence vnder Captein Imbault not daring for lack of footmeÌ„ to affroÌ„t the enemie were marched to S. Iohn D'arno with intencioÌ„ to reassemble in that place all the bands Which being knowne to Vitellozze fearing least his abseÌ„ce wold be incoÌ„uenieÌ„t for theÌ„ of Aretze he retired with diligeÌ„ce froÌ„ Lauernia within two miles of Quaratta from theÌ„ce drawing on to declare that he feared not the enemie to assure RhoÌ„dina with other places therabouts he incamped in a stroÌ„g place on that side to Rhondina hauing left certeine bandes of footmen for the guard of Ciuitella Gargonse which were the portes or gates by the which the Florentyn bandes might enter into the countrey These companies being also aryued two hundred Launces more vnder Capteine La Hire assembled betweene Monteuarche and Laterina with intencion that assoone as they had gathered a strength of three hundred footmen to goe incamp neare Vitellozze vppon some high hil A resolucion against his suertie and therefore neither hable to keepe that place nor leauy his Camp without great daunger he retired neare to the walles of Aretze But the frenche taking the fielde with their whole army and incamping right ouer against Quaratta he was driuen to retire within Aratzo Where albeit he had sayde to many that he would performe a notable defence in the same Citie yet new accidents hapning he was constrained to turne to new thoughtes For Iohn Pavvle Baillon was come to Perouse with his regiment fearing by that that was done to the Duke of vrbyn least he should fall into daunger of the lyke oppression By reason of which examples and no lesse for that which hapned in Camaryn Vitellozze Pandolfe Petrucci and the Vrsins fell into great confusion of mynde For in the very tyme that the Duke Valentynois commoned of accord with Iules de Varana Lorde of Cameryn he surprised the Citie by suttle meanes and hauing Iules in his power with two of his sonnes he caused them to be strangled with the same inhumanitie which he vsed against others But that which most amazed Vitellozze was that the french king already come to Ast sent Lovvys Trymouille into Tuskan with two hundred Launces and great strength of artilleries Who marching to Parma exspected there three thousand Svvyssers which the king sent for the recouery of Aretze at the charges of the Florentyns The King being greatly kindled against the Pope had an intencion to despoile the Duke Valentynois of Romania with other estates occupied by him and for that effect had sent for all those that either feared his power or had bene offended by him whom he assured that he would execute that intencion in person and protested publikely with great affection that it was an enterprise no lesse full of pietie and deuocion then if the action were dressed against the Turkes He laide also his plot at that tyme to chase out of Sienna Pandolfe Petrucci for that he had sent money to Lodovvyk Sforce when he returned to Myllan and alwayes had made open profession to be imperiall But the Pope and Duke Valentynois knowing that they were not hable to resist so great a storme and rage of anger of the french king had recourse to their suttleties and wel experienced craftes with the which they forged excuses that the actions agaynst Aretze were done by Vitellozze without their knowledge and that there authoritie sufficed not to restrame him and much lesse to keepe from ayding him the Vrsins and I. P. Baillon who albeit were in his paie yet they were ouerruled with the regard to their proper interests And the better to bring the minde of the king to moderation Duke Valentynois sent to tell Vitellozze that if he restored not Aretze and the other places of the Florentyns he would come with his whole armie and compel him to render that which he had vniustly gotten Which sommonce ioyned to the coÌ„sideratioÌ„ of the present estate of the affaires bred no litle astonishment in the minde of Vitellozze fearing least as hapneth for the most part that the strongest being reconciled the indignation of the king would turne against him which was the weaker in strength and farre inferior in all other meanes And therefore to auoyde his perill so apparant he called into Aretze the Capteine Imbault contrary notwithstanding to the willes of the Florentyns who desired that the townes lost might be redeliuered freely in the fielde who compouÌ„ded that Vitellozze departing immediatly with al
this answer commaunding them the same day to departe his Court he turned immediatly all his wittes to the preparations of the warre wherein taking occasion vppon the greatnes of the wrongs that had bene done hee determined to aduaunce farre greater prouisions both by land and sea then had bene done in any tymes affore by any of the kings of Fraunce So importunate is the passion of reuenge in the mindes of mortall men who notwithstanding finde oftentimes more securitie to dissemble iniuries then to reuenge them In so much as he determined to sende two mightie armies to the realme of Naples the one by sea and the other by land And least in the meane while Caietto and the Castles of Naples were lost he prepared to succour them with diligence by sea aswell with new supplies of men of warre as with all other necessarie thinges And to giue impediment that there went no succours out of Spaine which had bene the cause of all the disorders he resolued to inuade the kingdom of Spaine with two armies by lande addressing one to the countrey of Rossillion which adioyneth to the sea Mediterraney and the other to Fontearaby with the other places assisting vppon the Occean sea And also at the same time to assaile with an armie by sea the coastes of Catelognia and Valencia But whilest the French were diligent in preparing for these expedicions Consaluo deuising how he might haue the Castles of Naples planted his artillerie against new Castle at the foote of the hill Saint Martyn From thence on a place somewhat raised he beat the wall of the Citadell whose situation being towards the sayd mounteine was made strong with auncient walles their foundations being almost vnder the earth At the same tyme also Peter of Nauarro cast a myne to ouerthrowe the walles of the Citadell battring also the new Castle walles and the Towre of S. Vincent which Consaluo had wonne a fewe daies before Newcastle had a forme building after an other fashion then it is at this day for that now the Citadell being taken away there beginneth a newe circuit of walles where were the walles of the same and that stretcheth along the place of the Castle vntil the sea This circuit begun by Federyke by him raised euen to the wast being made of verie strong matter of walling wel foūded is very hard to be vndermined for that it is subiect to coūtermynes on all sides and also the water runneth almost vppō the vppermost part of the ground Consaluo had a determinatiō that assoone as he had taken the Citadell and comming neare the valte of the Castle wal he would destroy it with new mines But either by the naturall rashnes or by the ill fortune of the french men a greater occasion was offred to him the aduersities of the French making all thinges happie to their enemies For after Peter of Nauarro had put fyre to the myne which he had perfected the furie of the powder blewe open the wall of the Citadell and at the same instant the Spanish bandes of footemen standing readie arenged in battell exspecting thoperation of the fyerworke made entryes on many sides partly by those places of the wall that were broken and partly vsing the seruice of eskaling ladders they commaunded the wall in sundrie other places not hurt by the myne their fortune making those things easie which by experience reason seemed not without manifest peril On the other side the french issuing out of the Castle of intenciō not to suffer them to remeine within the Citadel charged them but with a successe farre inferior to their vertue for that being immediatly ouerlaied with multitudes of the Spanish as they retyred towardes the Rampier the Spanyards entred pellmell with them and running with the same fortune euen vp to the way that goeth to the gate they so redoubled the feares of the Frēch mē alredy appalled by the dispaire of their own estate that standing in condition vtterly abandoned in lesse then half an houre they rendred the Castle with their goods liues to discressiō the Count of Montoire remeining prisoner with many other Lordes This cōquest was so much the more agreeable to the Spanyards lesse for the purpose of the frēch by how much there arriued from Genes the daie folowing for their succours an armie by sea of six great ships with many smaller vessels fraighted with vittels weapō munitiōs a regiment of two thousand footmen At the discouery of this Nauy the Spanish army at sea riding then in the port of Naples retired into Yschia whether the French Nauie pursued them vnderstāding the new Castle was lost But the Spanish Nauie hauing sunke before them certeine Barkes to th end they were not compelled to fight after they had bestowed certeine bollnes of shot one against an other more for pleasure then preiudice they brake of the one going to Caietta and the other being reassured by the departure of thenemie retyred to the mole of Naples Fortune doing more for their safetie then their owne vertue After the taking of new Castle Consaluo fell to deuise by what meanes he might haue the residue of the realme and therfore without tarying for tharmy that was in Calabria which laie there to conquer the vale of Ariana to take away all impedimēts to passe further he sent Prosper Colonne into Abruzza And leauing Peter of Nauarro affore the Egg Castle he marched with the residue of th armie towardes Caietta in the taking wherof he supposed did consist the summe of the warre for that both the hopes and the dispaires of the French men depended wholly vppon the defence or losse of that Citie strong by the oportunitie of the sea and by the conueniencie and greatnes of his port verie fitte to receiue the armies that should be sent from Genes to Prouance Touching the French men they did not only hold Caietta but also besides the places thereaboutes which were in their power they commaunded in Abruzza Aquilea the rocke of Euandra with many other places Besides the Lord Levvys D'ars hauing reassembled many trowpes of horsmen and footemē being fortesied with the Prince of Melfa within Venousa did great harmes to the countrie thereabout Lastly Ronssano Matalona with many other strong peeces apperteining to the Barons of the faction of Aniovv helde out constantly at the deuocion of the french king their vallour notwithstanding being insufficiēt to resist their aduersities In this meane while Peter of Nauarro made certein cloase or couered Barks with the which approching in more suertie the walles of the Egg Castle he cast a mine on that side which prospects Pizifalcona without the knowledge or priuitie of thē within assone as he had intāgled it with the fire he blew into the aire in great fury one part of the wall together with the bodyes of men that stoode vppon it With the which both for the action terrible and the newnes of the deuise straunge the
Castle was immediatly taken to the speciall reputation of Peter of Nauaro and generall wonder of all men for that as newe inuentions to reuersse a strong place are most fearfull hauing as yet no deuise to encounter them so it was incredible to what estate of opinion this new experience brought Peter of Nauarro against whose mines they thought that neither walles fortresses nor other working could make resistāce so readely is the nature of man raised into wonder when his mynd comprehēds not the reason of the things which the eye beholdeth performed in action And sure in those daies it was a thing of great horrour that with the force of Canon pouder put into a Caue or rather powred in the myne men should throwe downe to the earth places walles of greatest strength most suttle foundatiō The first that vsed this experience of vndermining of walles in Italy were the Genovvaies amōgst whō according to the testimony of some Peter of Nauarre exercised the art of warre in the person of a meane soldiour on foote It was in the yeare 1487. whē they laie incamped affore the rocke of Serazenella holdē then by the Florentyns where with a mine cast in this maner they opened a parte of the wall missing notwithstanding the taking of the rocke for that the myne by some errour or imperfection had not pearced so deepe vnder the rocke as was needefull the same being thoccasion that at that tyme thexample of such an experience was not folowed Consaluo drawing neare to Caietto Monsr D alegro who had distributed foure hundred Launces and foure thousand footmen of those which remeined of the fortune of the battell betweene Caietta Fondi Itrio Tracetto and the rocke Guillaumo retyred them all eftsoones within Caietta wherein entred with him the Princes of Salerne Bisignan the Duke of Tracetto with many other Barons of the realme ioyned affore with him After the retraite of these companies Consaluo entred vppon those places which they had left abandoned and also vppon the rocke of S. Germain encamping afterwardes in the Subburbes of Caietta And after he had planted his artillerie he battred with an incredible furie that side towards the hauen the mounteine commonly called Mount Roland A hill conioyned and hath commaundement ouer the Citie and the which the French men had then fortefied with Rampiers and Bastillions of earth being afterwards by him inclosed with wall He assaied in vaine to enter with two assalts but not ordered and forbearing atlast to giue the assalt general and disposed that daie which he had determined to giue it he saw it would be harde to haue it aswel for the numbers vallours of those within as also when he cōsidered that though his army should enter by strength into the mountein yet he should be but brought into greater peril standing open to the shot of thartillerie planted in the monastery other high places vppō the mounteine He forbare not for all this to plaie with his artillerie to molest the towne which likewise was inuironed and beseged on that side to the sea lying affore the hauē the xviij Spanish Gallies which Dom Raymon de Cardona gouerned But whilest Cōsaluo was buisie in these actiōs there aryued for the French a Nauie of six grosse Carracks Genovvaies six other ships seuen Gallies with good succours of vittels footmen Their commaunder was the Marquis of Saluzzo whō by the death of Monsr de Nemours the king had sēt thether for their newe Viceroy the fortune of the warres notwithstanding nothing altring though the person of the General was chaunged The king desiring greatly to keepe Caietta refurnished them eftsoones within fewe daies what vppon those vessels and what vppon others with a thousand footemen of Corsegna and three thousand Gascoins In so muche as by the comming of this newe Nauie the Spanish Fleete was constrained to retyre to Naples and Consaluo dispairing to do any more good there retyred his regiments within the moale of Caietta and within Castellona whereby he kept Caietta beseeged with a seege as it were more large after he had lost many of his people partly by skirmishing and some in retyring amongst whom Dom Hugues de Cardona was slaine by a shot from the towne But at the same tyme all his other affaires of the kingdome trained a successe more happie for that Prosper Colonne had newely taken the rocke of Euandro and Aquilea and reduced all the other peeces of Abruzza to the Spanish deuotion almost all Calabria yelding the lyke obedience by the contract which the Count Capaccio had lastly made with them And there remeined no other place free from their iurisdiction but Rossano and Saint Seuerin where the Prince of Rossano was beseeged nothing resisting the felicitie of those men whom fortune went about to make victors Whilest these alterations trauelled the kingdome of Naples the other regions of Italy were not altogether voide of suspicions and troubles For the Florentyns affore the fortune of the French beganne so headlong to decline in the kingdome of Naples fearing indifferently the ambuscados of the Pope the ambition of the Duke Valentynois forgat not to leauie prouisiōs of warre equal to the greatnes of the perill that threatned holding it easie to suffer a mischief whē they are sure of the remedie They enterteyned into theyr paie for the leadyng of theyr armie and yet without title of generall the Baily of Caen with fiftie Frenche Launces A Capteyne for his owne perticular well recommended for the seruice of warre and for the respect of the Florentyns verie conuenient for that being the kinges subiect had brought his charge of fiftie Launces by the kinges consent they had opinion that those of whom they earst doubted would now be better aduised what they would doe the king expressing vnder that degree of fauour a disposition to be readie to their aide in all necessities Assoone as hee was come to their armie they reassembled all their troupes for the seconde tyme cut of the corne of the Pisans but not through the whole countrey for that to enter the vale of Sercle was not without daunger hauing his situation betwene the mounteins the waters in the myd way betweene Lucqua Pisa Immediatly after they had giuē this spoile to their corne the Camp marched to Vicopisan which was takē without difficultie for that an hundred frēch footmē being within it the Baily of Caē threatning to punish thē as enemies to the king somtimes promising thē of liberalitie a moneths paie they exchaūged their faith with feare hope of profit issued out of the town the same being thoccasiō that Vicopisan was rendred to discressiō Verucola also wherin was but a slender guard was forthwith enuironed to thend no succors should enter into it And thartillery being afterwardes trayled thether not without great difficulties for that the mounteines thereaboutes offred many troublesome impedimentes those that were within fearing more the thunder
of the CannoÌ„ theÌ„ trusting to their proper vertue or fortune yelded their goods and lyues saued The situation of Verucola being a litle fortresse raised vppon a hygh mounteyne during the warres in the countrey of Pisa is of great importance For that being within fiue miles of Pisa it hath not only a naturall aptnes to distresse the countrey thereabout yea euen to the gates of the Citie but also by his prospect he discouereth all the bandes and trowpes that come out of Pisa whether they bee on foote or horsemen Pavvle Vitelli and many other experienced Capteyns made many tryals in vaine to carie it since the warre begun And now the coÌ„fideÌ„ce that the Pisans had that Vicopisan would be defended without taking the which the FloreÌ„tyns could not encamp before Verucola was the cause that they had not made sufficient prouision wherein they helped forwarde the fortune of their enemies more by their proper negligence then by thothers vertue opinion beguiling them against reason or experience Greatly did amaze the Pisans the losse of Verucola in whom notwithstanding neither the regarde of the harmes they had receiued nor the consideration of their other calamities being miserable by want of money and vittels coulde worke no inclination to returne to the obedience of the Florentyns languishing by one common infirmitie in dispaire to obteine pardoÌ„ for the conscience of the great transgressions they had don Which disposition it was needful that such as in the gouernment bare greatest authoritie should enterteyne with a speciall diligence for that those of the plaine countrey without whom they were not able to continue defence bare no small suspection to run with the streame and to varie in minde as their common fortune declined And therefore nourishing them with diuers hopes together with those estates of the common people that liued more by the benefites of peace then troubles of warre they published amongst them sundrie rumors vnder thauthoritie of fained letters amusing them with diuers inuentions And confounding things false with those that were true if any accident hapned in Italy they tooke thoportunitie made it serue for their purpose coÌ„municating with the people that somtimes one Prince somtimes an other were readie to come to succor theÌ„ They made persuasioÌ„s according to the propertie of the time vsing their tonges in stead of force to staie those men vpon whoÌ„ depeÌ„ded their owne safetie But in al these extremities they were not without some aide succors of the Genovvaies Lucquois auncient enemies of the Florentyns likewise of Pandolfe Petrucci bearing litle remeÌ„brance of the benefits receiued And which was of greatest importaÌ„ce they were also norished in secret with certein succors but with far greater hopes by the Duke ValeÌ„tynois Ambition hath infinit operatioÌ„s in this abuseth thimaginatioÌ„s of men that it makes theÌ„ seeme able to hold those things which they can not gripe raiseth their mynds to coÌ„ceiue matters aboue their power or possibilitie For the Duke in whoÌ„ had long raged a desire to make him self Lord of that citie in other times had absteined for feare of the kings displeasure tooke now thaduauÌ„tage of the time presuming much by the infelicitie of the freÌ„ch in the realme of Naples he ioyned to him the coÌ„sent of his father treated with the Pisan Embassadours whom they had sent to Rome for that purpose to accept the iurisdiction aspiring by that meane to occupie all Tuskane A deuise which albeit brought the Florentyns and Stennois into no small suspicion of him yet thuniuersall benefit being hindred by their perticularities there was no proceeding to that vnitie which the french king propouÌ„ded betweene the Florentyns the Bollonois the Siennois for that they of Florence refused to accept it if they were not repossessed of Mont Pulcian as had bene solicited promised from the beginning And Pandolfe who bare a minde estraunged from it albeit he made other showe alleaged that to restore it would so stirre vp the hate of the people of Sienna against him that he should be constrained yet once againe to forsake the towne and therefore he saide it was better for the common benefite to deferre it as yet till time brought about a better occasion theÌ„ in restoring it presently to further the Duke Valentynois with meanes to occupie Sienna By these meanes denying nothing he kept things in longnes and delaies seeking to leaue the Florentyns contented with hopes in stead of effects Which excuses by theÌ„ reiected were accepted beleeued in the Court of Fraunce by the meane of Frauncis de Naruy resident at Sienna by the kings commaundement But it was not thintention of the Pope and Valentynois to put these enterprises to executioÌ„ otherwayes then the proceeding of th armie which the king prepared gaue them courage and induced them by occasions to sticke more to the one king then to the other Whereuppon in that tyme they stoode in suspencion variation of thoughtes deferring asmuche as they could the declaration of their intencion which bare no fauour or inclination to the Frenche King further then there was feare to constraine them for that thexperience of thinges passed in Bologna and Tuskane tooke away all hope to attempt greater matters with his fauour And for that reason as they had begunne affore the victorie of the Spanyards to become more and more seperate from him in will â—o after the victorie rising in impudencie and weening they respected no more as they were wont to doe neither his will nor his authoritie his aduersities disclosing their corruptions which in his prosperities he rather suspected then discerned And albeit immediatly after the ouerthrowes of the Frenche they gaue assurance to embrace the kinges quarrels making demonstration to enterteine men to send to the realme of Naples Yet what by the ambition of new conquests and greedie eyes they cast vppon the riches of Tuskane the king requiring that they would declare them selues openly for him the Pope aunswered in suche miserie and doubt that by howe much lesse they were innocent in wordes or meaning by so muche more it was reasonable in the king to suspect them â–ª Their simulation and dissimulation being so notable that it was a prouerbe ordinarie in Rome that the Pope neuer did that which he saide and the Duke seldome spake that which hee ment Besides the contention wherein they were with Iohn Iordan was not yet determined For albeit Valentynois fearing the kinges displeasure absteined to molest him vppon his maiesties commaundement Yet the Pope declaring howe muche that greeued him ceassed not to solicit the king to suffer him either by armes to reconquer the estates of Iohn Iordan or els by some other degree of compulsion to see that he had recompense for them Giuing to vnderstande that that which moued him was not ambition but a iust feare of his neighbourhead proceeding vppon this suspition that finding amongst the papers of Cardinall Vrsin a blanke signed with
against him Touching the condition of the Fauentins there was no more remeining to thē but to haue recourse to the Florētins who discōtēted that a citie of so nere neighborhed should fal into the power of the Venetians had sent to their succors in the beginning 200. footmen enterteining them with hopes still to refurnish them to th end to hold them in courage till the Pope were at oportunitie to succour them But seeing by many apparances that the Pope had no disposition to take armes and that thauthoritie of the Frenche king warning the Venetians in the beginning not to molest the estates of the Duke Valentynois was not sufficient to withdrawe them And lastely esteeming it no pollicie to enter alone into a warre with so mightie enemies they forbare to releeue them with any further supply By which alteration the Fauentyns beeing cut off from all hopes and the Venetian armie incamping at the Churche of the Obseruauntes hauing begonne to play with their artillerie agaynst the walls of their Citie beeing vnhappie also in this that their intelligences were discouered and certayne of them taken who had conspired to put the Venetians into the towne they yeelded vp their Citie into their hands the Venetians agreeing to giue to Astor a certayne pention albeit but little for the releefe of his life After the taking of Faenza the Venetians might with the same facilitie and fortune haue commaūded Ymola Furly but not to aggrauate the indignation of the Pope who murmured not a litle they sent their mē into garrison determining for that time to passe no further hauing occupied in Romania besides Faenza and Rimini with their countries Montefiora Saint Archangeo Verrucque Gaterre Sauignano Meldole the hauē of the countrey of Cesena and in the territorie of Ymola Toslignana Solaruola and Montbataile Valentynois held only in Romania the Castels of Furly of Cesena of Forlimpople and of Bertinoire All which albeit he had great desire to go into Romania to th end they were not vsurped by the Venetians he had easily consented to put into the Popes keeping with bonde to receiue them of him agayne at suche time as they should be assured had it not bene that the Pope his auncient integritie beeing not yet ouercome with desire to beare rule refused the offer saying he would not willingly accept occasions that might any way allure him to corrupt his fayth At laste to oppose in some sort agaynst the proceedings of the Venetians with whom he was not a little discontented for the daunger of the estate ecclesiasticke hauing also a desire that Valentynois should depart from Rome he accorded with Valentynois that he should go to Spetia by sea and from thence by lande to Ferrara and so to Ymola where should be restored to him an hundred men at armes and fiftie light horsmen which yet followed his ensignes interposing in this conuention not only the name of the Pope but also the name of the college of Cardinals With this resolutiō Valentynois beeing gone to Ostia to be embarked the Pope was sodenly repented that he had not accepted the Castels and hauing nowe a speciall desire to haue them not respecting the meanes and to keepe them to him selfe he sent after the Cardinals of Volterre and Surrente to persuade him that to preuent that those places should not fall into the hands of the Venetians he would be content to deliuer them vp into the Popes keeping vnder the same promise that had bene treated vpon at Rome So soone do mens minds alter when ambition hath once possest the spirites and made way to greedie desire which in matters of profite holdes nothing respected Valentynois taking aduauntage of the Popes incertentie denied nowe to doe that which earst he was well contented and the Pope rising with the occasion into indignitie caused him to be arested in the gallies wherein he was embarked and in decent sort to be led to Magliana from whence all the Court and communaltie of Rome reioycing for thapprehension of his person he was led to the Vatican and honoured but not without especiall and good gardes the reason was that the Pope fearing least the Castle kepers dispairing of his safetie would not sell the Castells to the Venetians sought to make him tractable by easie meanes and so to haue them by his consent and will. Thus the power of Duke Valentynois rising as it were sodenly to his soueraigntie and height tooke ende with a ruine more sodeine and as the meanes by the which he aspired to his greatnes had more resemblance with crueltie and deceites then that the armes and power of the Church did aduaunce him So by a due sentence of iustice he experienced in him selfe parte of the artes and trumperies wherewith his father and he had vexed many seuerall personages he was like to the tree that groweth till he come to his height and then is plucked vp from the roote in a moment The heauie stone commonly ouerwhelmeth himselfe with his owne weight who doth couet the fruite and not considereth the height of the tree whereon it groweth let him take heede that whilest he laboreth to climbe to the toppe he fall not with the bowes which he doth embrace It is harde for men ambitious to holde fast their fortune for she is slipper and can not be kept agaynst her will and therefore to men that studie to followe the streame it is good to put a bridle to their felicitie so shall they the better gouerne it it is an office in wise men to consider alwaies their owne estate where the vayne ambitious man liueth for the most part in the remembraunce of those things which make him to forget him selfe The souldiours and folowers of the Duke had almost no better fortune who beeing drawne into the countrey of Perousa with hope to obteine safeconduit of the Florentins and others beeing chased by the regiments of Vitelli they were constrayned for their safetie to retyre vpon the landes of the Florentins where beeing dispersed betweene Chastilion and Cortona and reduced to foure hundred horsemen with a very slender strength of footemen they were stripped by the appoyntment of the Florontins and Dom Michaell their leader taken prisoner him they deliuered afterwards to the Pope who demaunded him with an importunite well expressing the hates he bare to all the olde seruauntes of the late Pope Alexander And albeit this man had bene a faythfull minister and executor of all the wickednes of Valentynois yet after the Pope had spent some conference with him he turned his crueltie into compassion following his naturall inclination which was to be easie to pardon those vpon whom he had power to execute his anger About this time the Cardinall d'Amboyse departed from Rome to returne into Fraunce hauing obteyned of the Pope more for feare then for good will a confirmation of the legation of that realme But the Cardinall Askanius folowed him not notwithstanding at his comming out of Fraunce
other gentlemen of marke in whom the maner of their death was no lesse lamentable then their fortune ouer besides that which by imputatiō may be imposed vpō the French captains for their disagrement negligent gouerument as also that that may be obiected to the iniury of the time that neither the French nor Svvizzers are not comparatiue with the Spaniards either with resolution of mind to temporise or expect or with their bodies to sustaine the trauels and incommodities that a warre draweth with it There are principally considered two things whiche hindered the Frenche king that he remained not victorious the one was the long aboade that th armie made vppon the territories of Rome for the Popes death the same beeing the cause that wynter came vppon them and that the Vrsins were practised withall by Consaluo afore they coulde enter into the kingdome where if they coulde haue made their entrie whilest the tyme was tollerable Consaluo farre inferiour to them in forces and not fauoured with thoportunitie and rigor of the time had bene constrayned to abandon the greatest part of the kingdome to seeke out the strong places for his succor or els suffer the authoritie of an enemie farre more mightie then him selfe The other consideration was the couetousnes of the officers treasorers who beguyling the king in the payes of the souldiers and lesse trustie in the prouision of vittayles furniments for the seruice made their thefts and negligences the principall cause of the diminution of that armie since the king had expressed such a prouision and care for all things necessarie that it is certayne by good credible testimonie that at the vnhappie time when the frenchmen were ouerthrowen there were within Rome by the kings direction great quantities of siluer and other releefes for warre but so violent was the destinie that ranne to the desolation and ruine of that armie that albeit at the laste after many complayntes of the Captaynes and the whole multitude of souldiours there was leauyed an abundant prouision of vittels yet they suffered suche a penurie and scarsity in the beginning that that disorder ioyned to the other discommodities was the breeder of infinite diseases of the absenting of many of the murmuring of many and that many seeing their fidelitie could finde no refuge in the armie sought their safetie in places thereabout matters which in the ende brought foorth the absolute ruine of so braue an armie for as for the nourishing of the body it is not ynough that the head be well disposed but it is also necessarie that the other members do their office euen so it sufficeth not that the Prince do his duetie if withall the diligence and vertue which ought to be in his ministers haue not equall action the one beeing necessarie to the other as the direction of the head and brayne of man auayleth little without the execution of the other inferior members to whom suche ministration is appoynted The selfe same yere wherin so great mutations hapned in Italie was made a peace betwene the Turke Baiazet Ottoman and the Venetians which both parties embrased with great affection for the Turke in whom was expressed a spirit of mekenes and disposed to learning and studie of the Scriptures of his religion had by the working of his owne inclination a nature farre estraunged from armes by reason whereof notwithstanding he had begonne the warre with great preparations both by sea and lande and occupied in Morea the two former yeares Naupanto nowe called Lepanto Modono Corono and Iunquo yet he folowed not nor continued the warres with so great affection beeing withdrawen eyther by the desire he had to tranquilitie and rest or at least by a suspicion of hys proper daunger least for religion sake the Princes of Christendome should drawe into conspiracie agaynst him for both Pope Alexander had sent certayne galliots to the succours of the Venetians and with money had also stirred vp Launcelot king of Bohemia and Hungaria to make warre vpon the Turkes frontiers the Frenche and Spanishe kinges sending but not at one tyme their seuerall armies to ioyne with the power of the Venetians But this peace was embraced by the state of Venice with a greater desire for that by thiniquitie of the warres and that to the common detriment of the Citie and perticuler losse to euery one in priuate the traffike of marchandise which they made in diuers regions of the Leuant was discontinued the Citie also of Venice whiche euery yeere was wonte to haue from certayne prouinces of the Turkes certayne quantities of corne did suffer many necessities for the depriuation of that reliefe And lastly where they had wont to amplifie their iurisdiction by the warres which they haue managed with other princes they feared nothing so muche as the power of the Turkes of whom they had bene alwayes beaten as often as they had had warres together for Amurathus grandfather to Baiazet had occupied the towne of Thessalonica nowe called Salonica parcell of the dominions of Venice And after him Mahomet his father mainteyning continuall warre agaynst him for sixteene yeres tooke from them the yle of Negroponto a great part of Peleponesso now named Morea Scutaro with many other towns in Macedonia Albania In so much as both for that they supported the war agaynst the Turks with right great difficulties and expences hauing no hope to breede any profite by them and also by how muche they doubted at the same time to be distressed by inuasion of other Christian princes the time beeing full of conspiracies by so muche was it reasonable that they desired to be at tranquilitie with the Turkishe regions It was suffered to Baiazet by the conditions of the peace to reteyne still all that he had occupied and the Venetians reseruing onely the I le of Cesalonia aunciently called Leucado were compelled to yeelde to him the proprietie of Nerita nowe named S. Mavvra But the warre of the Turkes brought not so many displeasures to the Venetians as they receyued harmes by the king of Portugall who had taken from them and appropriated to him selfe the traffike of spices whiche the Marchantes and shippes bringing out of Alexandria a noble Citie in Egypt to Venice they sent dispersed with a wonderfull profite through all the prouinces in Chrystendome The whiche alteration beeing a thing of the most merite and memorie of all others that haue hapned in the worlde since many ages and for the harmes which the Citie of Venice receyued by it hauing some affinitie with the matters of Italie it can not much alter the estate of our historie to speake somewhat of it at large Such men of spirite and science as by depe speculation and contemplation haue considered the wonderfull motions and dispositions of the heauen and haue left the knowledge thereof recommended to succession and posteritie haue figured a line running through the round circle of the heauen frō the west to the East and bearing an
when th execution of conspiracies is deferred the treason being detected Ferdinand with the other conspirators were imprisoned and Iulio who was fled to his sister at Mantua was by the direction of the Marquis sent prisoner to Alphonso being assured by his promise and fidelitie that he should not be touched with death But a little after the Counte Albertin being condemned iudicially was quartered with the others that were founde guiltie and the two brethren passed ouer to perpetuall prison in the newe castell of Ferrara In this place of the historie it is not inconuenient to touch somewhat of thaudacitie and industrie of duke Valentynois who being subtelly slyded downe by a corde out of the Rocke of Medina de Campo fledde into the kingdome of Nauarre to king Iohn brother to his wife where to th ende thistorie cease to speake any more of him after he had remeined certaine yeres in base condition the French king confisking both the duchie of Valence the pension of twenty thousand franks which he gaue him in supply of reuenue also would not suffer him to go into Fraunce bicause he would do nothing that might discontent the king of Aragon he was at last slayne by the conspiracie of an ambush commaunding ouer the men of warre of the king of Nauarre in the campe at Viano a litle place in the sayde realme Vpon the ende of this yere for that the yere folowing should not begin without matter of new warres the Genovvaies rebelled against the French king hauing no other incitation then of them selues the matter taking his fundation not of any desire to rebel but rather of the ciuil discords which caried men further then their former counsels and deliberations rebellion being of a condition to encrease in occasions as the fire is redoubled in heat by the fresh matter which it embraseth The citie of Genes a citie seated in a place most apt to cōmaund the sea if so great an oportunitie were not hindred by the pestiferous poison of ciuil dissentions is not as many other great townes in Italie subiect to one particular diuision but is deuided into many partyes and factions both for the relikes of the ancient quarrels betwene the Guelffes and Gibelins yet remeining there and also for the sedes of dissention stil growing betwene the gentlemen and populars by the which the whole nation of Italie hath bene much afflicted but specially many cities in Tuskane haue bene brought to extreme ruine for the communaltie not hable to beare the pride of the Nobles bridled much their authoritie power by many rigorous lawes and amōgst others suffring them to cōmunicate with al other offices and honors they excluded them particularly from the dignitie of Dukedome a supreme estate whiche was giuen for life to any other that was chosen notwithstanding by thinconstancie of that citie fewe or none were suffred to continue in that place tyll they dyed the seate of dominion beeing alwayes ielouse but moste casuall where it diuolueth by election which by his proper ambition nourisheth for the most parte a secrete subiection to alteration and fall No lesse great is the diuision betweene the families of the Adorni and Fregosi who from base condition and popular houses being risen to the dignitie of Capellaci so do the Genovvaies call suche as are aspired to any great potentacie contende together for the dignitie of duke which for many yeres hath continued for the most part in one of those two families for the gentlemen of the Guelffs and Gibelins not able to ascende to the place for the impediment of the lawes sought to make it fall to such of the populars as were of their faction And as the Gibelins fauoring the Adornes and the Guelffes the house of Fregosa tyme hath made those two families more noble and mightie then those of whome afore they folowed their name and authoritie So neuerthelesse all those diuisions are so confounded that oftentimes they that be of one part agaynst the partie opposite are in them selues deuided into diuers partes and of the contrarie conioyned in one with those that followe an other faction This yere began to kindle betweene the gentlemen and commons a debate which breeding at the first vpon the insolencies of certayne of the Nobles and working by litle and litle the most part of the mindes of both the one and other side ill disposed it chaunged qualitie ere it were long and of priuate contentions conuerted it selfe into the nature and habite of publike discordes easie ynough to kindle in cities so abounding in riches as did Genes at that time These quarels roase encreasing so farre that the people possessed with surie drewe into tumult and made violent slaughter of one of the families of Oria with certaine other gentlemen wherein offering all things to spoyle and ruine they obteined in that mutinie more by force then free will of the Citie that the day after it might be ordeined in the publike councels wherein were assistant very fewe of the Nobles that of those offices whiche afore were diuided equally betweene the Nobles and commons there might be hereafter distribution made of two partes to the people and one onely reserued to the Nobles to which deliberation Roccaber guyding the citie in the absence of Phillip Rauastin then gouernour for the king consented for feare of greater perils neuerthelesse the populars not beeing quieted for all this but ouercaried with their mutinous humors stirred vp within fewe dayes after a newe tumult and put the noblemens houses to sacke an outrage that compelled most part of the Gentlemen to abandon the citie finding no estate of suretie in their naturall regions These mutations being eftsones signified to the gouernour caused him to returne with speede out of Fraunce to Genes with a strength of an hundred and fiftie horse and seuen hundred footemen But neither with his authoritie his perswasions his presence nor with his forces coulde he reduce things to a better estate so irregulate is a communaltie or multitude once drawen into mutinie and their barbarous furie inuincible agaynst all reason order or good prescription No oftentimes he was compelled to apply him selfe to the will of the people making his authoritie rather to be plausible to the multitude then to punish their mutinies he passed ouer things with sufferance and obeyed the necessitie of the time commaunding to retyre and returne certayne other trowpes that were appoynted to come after him out of Fraunce These beginnings gaue courage to the Commons to become more insolent and as it hapneth often in Cities declined to sedition the gouernment contrarie to the will of many of the best sort of the Commons fell almoste absolutely into the power of the dregges of the people who in their furie created to them selues a newe magistracie or office of eyght men of the populars with a great authoritie And they the rather to keepe the whole incensed by the dignitie of their name were called
king to greater anger together with the relation of the Nobles that they had deposed his Armories and in their place had exalted the ensignes of Caesar that he redoubled the preparations which he had prouided afore wherein he was also so muche the more kindled to reuenge and wrath by howmuche Caesar at the perswasions of the Genovvaies and haply by the Popes secrete setting on had written to him that he ought not to molest Genes as a towne of the empire offring so to labor that the people should be ranged and reduced to all thinges iust and reasonable The Duke and Tribunes were somewhat nourished in their rashe boldnes by certaine prosperous successes they had had on the coast of Leuant for Ierome the sonne of Lovvys de Fyesquo hauing reconquered Rapallo with two thousande footemen and certayne horse as he went by night to surprise Rocqua encountred the bandes that were sent from Genes to succour it And whether it were by any disaduauntage of the place or for any other peculier respecte of feare or danger he forbare to enterteine the skirmish and without comming to short weapons he fell disorderly to fleeing Wherevpon Orlandin nephew to Iohn Lovvys which was marched as farre as Recquo with an other regiment did the like hearing the noyse of the chase By this fortune the Duke and the Tribunes became more insolent and in those glorying humors proceeded to besiege Castellaccio an ancient Castell which the auncient Lordes of Millan builded in the mountaynes aboue Genes at suche times as they were commaunders ouer that Citie to serue as a helpe that those companies which they should sende out of Lumbardie might haue oportunitie to approche neare Genes and succour the castell which conteining a very small garrison they forced it and tooke it easily for that the French bands that were there yeelded vnder fayth to haue their goodes and life preserued whiche according to the infidelitie of a commotion was not obserued those that were the executors of suche outrages returning to Genes with bloudy handes and great reioysings as tokens of their glorie and triumph At the same time also they began to batter with their artilleries the castell and the Church of Saint Frauncis ioyning to it their fortune making them blinde agaynst discretion and reason as men more mightie in felicitie and chaunce then in force or good experience And albeit the king was already passed into Italie and reenforced his armie continually to assaile Genes without delay And the king catholike notwithstanding he wished their conseruation would not shewe him selfe deuided from the French king but furnished him with foure light galleys And lastly albeit the Pope durst not otherwyse disclose his intentions then in giuing them secret hopes and that they were desperately abandoned of all succours and had but onely three hundred footemen forreiners not one Capteine or commaunder experienced in warre and great lacke of munitions yet were they resolute and continued in their obstinacie reapposing muche for themselues in the straites of their countrey and that by the difficulties and sharpnes of wayes and passages they might easily lette thenemie for comming neare Genes And as men esteeming certeintie in the winde they despised in regarde of these vayne hopes the admonitions of many and specially the counsels of the Cardinall of Finale who accompanying the French armie perswaded them by many messengers and letters to offer vp themselues to the kings will giuing them hope to obteine pardon and conditions tollerable But the armie marching by the way of the borough of Fornaro and Serauallo the vanitie of thenterprises of the Genovvaies began to appeare being not measured not layde out by men trayned in warre but folowed with clamors and vayne braggings of a base and ignoraunt multitude In so muche as the courages of men nothing answering in a present perill to that whiche they had promised when they were without feare six hundred of their footemen set to guarde their first straites being charged by the French men fled cowardly by whose example the residue that kept the other passages abandoned their places and retyred to Genes leauing all the straites open to the French whose armie hauing passed ouer without impediment the toppe of the mountaynes was now descended into the vale of Pozzeuero within seuen myles of Genes A matter that did not a litle amaze and maruell the Genovvaies for that contrarie to their vndiscrete expectations they sawe their armie so hardie as to encampe in that valley frontyred with troublesome mountains and in the middest of the enemies countrey At the same time also the kings nauie which conteyned eyght light galleis eyght gallions with many Fusts and Brigantins presented themselues before Genes and from thence sayled towards Portouenere and Speitia pursuing the Genovvay nauie beeing seuen galleis and six barkes which not daring to keepe the hauen of Genes were withdrawen into those places From the valley of Pozzeuero the armie drew to the borowe of Riuarola two miles within Genes and neare to the Churche of S. Peter d'Arena which is ioyning to the sea And albeit as they marched they mette in many places with diuers footebandes of the Genovvaies yet they all being of one resolution and possessed with one pusillanimitie of minde fledde afore them their feares being greater then their daungers This day arriued in the armie the person of the king and was lodged in the Abbey de Boshet right ouer agaynst the borough of Riuarola he was accompanied with the most part of the nobles of Fraunce with many numbers of gentlemen of the duchie of Millan and with the Marquis of Mantua whom not many dayes before the king had declared chiefe of the order of S. Michaell and giuen vnto him the standerd which had not bene giuen to any since the death of king Lovvys the eleuenth In the Frenche armie were eyght hundred launces the king considering the difficulties of the countrey had left the others in Lomberdie a thousande eight hundred light horsemen sixe thousande Svvizzers and six thousand footmen of other nations It is to be vnderstāded that the Genovvaies because they would not leaue free that way which leades by the mountaynes to Castellaccio and so to Genes a shorter way then by Saint Peter d'Arene and ioyning to the sea had builded a bastillion on the toppe of the Mountaine called the promontorie hill betwene the borow of Riuarola and Saint Peter d'Arene from which bastillion the way lay from Castellaccio by the backside of the rocke The armie then that lay encamped at Riuarola marched the same day to the sayd bastillion and on the other part there issued out of Genes eight thousande footemen guyded by Iacques Corse lieftenant to Tarlatin for Tarlatin and the souldiours of the Pisans which were enclosed in Ventimiglia when the campe was leauyed from before Monaco albeit they were reuoked by the Genovvaies who for their conduction sent them the shippe of Demetrius Iustinian could not returne to Genes by lande
for thimpediment of the French nor by seas for that the windes were contrarie But the French beeing nowe to issue and ascende discouered the footetroopes of the Genovvaies who being ascended to the mountayne by that side of the valley that leades to the bastilion and afterwards the most parte of them beeing discended had made head aboue a rocke which is the halfe way of the mountayne agaynst whom Monsr de Chaumont sent many gentlemen with a good strength of footemen The Genovvaies aswell for their oddes in numbers as the aduantage of the place made a valiaunt defence and that to the great domage of the French who making a cōtempt of their enemies for that they were bandes compounded vpon artificers and people vniuersall went gallantly to charge them without considering the strength and situation of the place And as Monsr de Palissa was hurt in the throate but with no perill of lyfe Monsr Chaumont seeking to driue them from thence caused to be mounted on high two Cannons which beating them in flanke constrayned them to retyre to the mountaine where the residue of their strength remeined The French folowing them in good order of warre those that garded the bastillion albeit for his seate and fortification they might with suretie abide the Cannon fearing least vpon them and suche as were vpon the mountaine might fall some of the French bandes they left it abandoned to their great infamie by meane whereof suche as from the rocke had begon to retyre towards the bastillion seeing their way was cut off returned eftsones to Genes by diches and causies leauing the ordinarie pathes and loasing in the retraict about three hundred bodies These successes brought an incredible feare ouer all the Citie which depending wholly vpon the willes of the inferiour multitudes neither directed by counsels of warre nor ruled by ciuill wisdome sent two Embassadors to th armie to solicite to render themselues vnder couenantes conuenient They could not haue audience nor accesse to the king but were referred to bee heard by the Cardinall of Amboyse who made them answere that there was no disposition in the king to accept them if they did not make a free and generall offer of their liues and goods to the kings absolute discretion sparing to intromit all motions of capitulations or couenants they that in th offence had not respected his maiestie nor their fidelitie But during the parley with the Cardinal it is hard to moderate a multitude giuen ouer to mutinie one part of the commons not inclined to reconcilement and peace going out of Genes by heapes displayed their ensignes with many other footbands vpon the rocks and side of the valley which leadeth from Castellaccio they approched within a quarter of a myle of the Bastillion hoping to recouer it and enterteining the skirmish for three houres with certen of the French bands that came against them they retired at last to Castellaccio neither reioycing in their fortune nor leauing to their enemies any aduantage Al which meane while the king more fearfull of a greater stirre then well assured of the conquest remeined alwayes armed on horseback in a plaine betwene the ryuer of Pozzeuero and the place where the army was encamped his minde wauering and his expectation not satisfied Neuertheles the night folowing the Genovvaies whose counsels were now desperate as the brute was common that certain principals of the people had secretly conspired and compounded with the king euen from the time he entred Ast And the commons ioyning to their declining condition many complaints that they had bene abused The Duke with many of those that knewe that no submission was worthy of place nor their faultes meete to be dispensed withall together with all the regimentes of Pisans departed to go to Pisa leauing the citie to discretion as themselues were driuen to folow their fortune The morning following by the appearing of the day the same Embassadors returned eftsones to the campe and consented to giue vp the towne to the kings discretion not hauing susteined the warre aboue eight dayes A notable example of the ignorance and confusion of multitudes and people who grounding their doings vpon fallible hopes vayne expectations are furious when the danger is farre of and very irresolute when perill approcheth not temperate in their counsels irregulate in their actions and for their common affections moste dissolute and immoderate The accord being made the king with his armie approched neare Genes the footmen being bestowed in the suburbes who became almost intractable specially the Svvyzzers whom there was much to do to restrayne from entring the towne and to make pillage of the goodes So sweete a praye is the spoyle of a Citie and so vnbridled is the mercenary souldiour that serueth but for his hyre bearing for the moste parte very negligent respectes to equitie order or conscience After this Monsr Chaumont entred into Genes with the moste parte of the other regiments hauing first furnished Castellaccio with garrison The Genovvaies deliuered vp to him all the armes aswell publike as priuate whiche were immediately bestowed in the Castell with three peeces of artillerie brought thither by the Pisans and afterwardes reconueyed to Millan The next daye beeing the xxix of Aprill the person of the king made his entrie into Genes with all the companies of men at armes and archers of his guarde And as he was alighted vnder a starely arche holding in his hande a naked sworde and himselfe all attyred in whyte garmentes there appeared afore him the familie of the Antyans accompanied with many honorable Citizens who falling at his feete with teares sorrowe and submission and all other argumentes of men offendours the one of them in the 〈…〉 ame of the whole after silence was graunted besought the king in this sorte We come not here vpon our knees right merciful king to debate the trāsgressions we haue done but to offer our selues guiltie in as many faultes as it shall please you to heape agaynst vs our rebellion so late and apparant testifieth how litle we holde of innocencie and our aggreeued minds showe forth howmuche we are humbled by the remorse and conscience of our proper disobedience The innocent man findes words to speake but to the offendor it is harde to keepe a temperance in his tale specially where the greatnes of the fault exceedes the expectation of mercy or forgiuenes None can better iudge of sorowe then such as are afflicted nor any further of to speake for pardon then the minds that stande heauily loaden with the burden of their proper transgressions it takes away their libertie of speaking and makes them more ashamed to confesse a faulte then to do it confounding the nature of th offence with the remorse of conscience that foloweth which mans frailtie can not suppresse if we would be silent our humilities yet speake for vs attyred with all those demonstrations of dolour which nature in any sorte can disclose in hartes
distribution and power of a man ambitious and proude and by his subiection to wine with many other dishonest immoderat affections would administer them not according to the consideration of iustice benefite of Christendome but as he was pushed on with his vile corrupt and intemperat humors Besides he sawe not by what reason they might hope for a greater constancie of fayth in this Pope then in others his elders and predecessors making for the most parte their authoritie subiect to their ambition and their counsels alwayes running with the concurrance and course of times Neither could he discerne howe they might be assured that the Pope hauing obteined Faenza Rimini would not knit with the residue to recouer Rauenna Ceruia hauing a minde specially watchefull ouer oportunities and occasions giuen That the experience of his actions and examples past proued in him no greater staye or stabilitie of fayth then agreed with the custome of other Popes who to giue a coollour of iustice and equitie to those thinges they dyd lefte ordeined amongst their other lawes that the Churche notwithstanding all contract promise and benefites recoyned might retract and directly impugne any bondes or obligations which the selfe prelates had made He alleaged that albeit the confederation betwene Maximilian the French king was made with a great vehemencie of disposition yet the willes and intentions of the other confederates did varie and differ the king Catholike being brought in by meanes compulsiue and extraordinarie and the Pope well expressing signes of his accustomed doubtes and suspitions And therfore the league of Cambray was not more to be feared then the confederacie which the same Maximilian king Lovvis had with the same importunitie treated aforetimes at Trent afterwards at Blois for that many difficulties which for their affinitie and nature it was almost impossible to remoue or alter did mightily resist th execution of things determined That for those reasons it touched the Senate in principal study diligēce to deuise meanes to separat Caesar frō such coniunction A matter of easie hope expectation no lesse for the respect of his nature and necessities then for his auncient hatred agaynst the French and beeing once deuided from it the whole feares of the warre were taken away for that the french king standing abandoned of his society and succors would beare no more stomack to inuade them then he had done in times past That in al publike actions the beginning ought depely to be considered since afterwards it was not in the power of men to temporise or leaue of without dishonor and danger to their deliberations wherin they had long consulted That as their elders so they by succession had bene alwayes carefull in all occasions to augment their dominion and with a disclosed open profession to aspire to great things A matter which made them hatefull to many partly for feare and partly for displeasure disdaine of that they had taken from them wherin albeit it hath bene perceiued long time before that that hatred might engender some great alteration yet as they haue not for all that forborne to embrace thoccasions that had bene offred them so it was not nowe a remedie to the daungers present to beginne to leaue a part of that they did possesse since it woulde rather kindle then quenche the humors of those that hated them taking courage vppon their fearefulnes And seeing it hath bene a perpetuall Maxime amongst the Potentates of Italie that the Venetians neuer forsaked thinges that once were salne into their handes who woulde not iudge that to breake nowe so honorable a custome proceeded not of a laste dispaire to be hable to defende the perills that threatned That whosoeuer began to giue place and leaue any thing howe little soeuer was the first detector of the reputation and auncient honor of his common weale which as it is a readie oportunitie to thaugmentation of daungers so to that state that beginnes to decline it is farre more harde to conserue agaynst the least perills that be that which remaynes then agaynst an other state who caring to keepe his dignitie and degree and making no signe to yeelde or giue place conuertes his force readily against him that seekes to oppresse him Vallour and courage reteine long those things that of themselues are weake and impotent and as nothing doth more terrifie the enemie then to seeme to be resolute so to holde faste that that hath bene gotten is a cooler iustificatorie to enhable the tytle and interest of the thing There can be no greater infamie to a prince or common weale then by negligence or cowardise to lose that whiche their auncestors haue gotten with diligence and valour That it was necessarie eyther to reiect valiantly those first demaundes or in yelding to them to looke to yeelde to many more by which in short time is to be expected the absolute subuersion of their estate and by consequent the irreparable losse of their proper libertie That as their common weale both in the ages of their fathers and in their dayes had borne out many great warres agaynst the Princes of Christendome of which they caried a glorious issue for that they always shewed one constancie and resolution of minde so in the present difficulties notwithstanding they may seeme greater may be hoped no worse successe both for that their power and authoritie were greater and also by experience that in warres managed in common by many princes agaynst one alone the terrors are wont to be more thē theffects for that after the first furies be abated banished there riseth diuersitie of opinion which breedeth variation of faith and constancie all things dissoluing with a naturall facilitie that grow into their being with an immoderate importunitie and fury Lastly that Senat was to hope that besides the preparations remedies which of their owne power they were hable to furnishe God the most foueraigne righteous iudge would not leaue abandoned a cōmon weale bred and norished in a perpetuall libertie and in whom did shine the very beautie and aspect of all Europe and muche lesse would suffer to be oppressed with thambition of Princes vnder a false cooler to prepare warre agaynst the infidels that citie which in so great pietie and religion had bene for many yeeres the very protector and defender of the whole common weale of Christendome These reasons so wrought in the mindes of the most part that according to thexample of the yere before and being a thing fatal to that Senat the worst counsell preuayled contrarie to thopinions of many Senators of greatest wisdome and authoritie In so much as the Pope who had deferred the ratification till the last day ratified the league but vnder this expresse declaration that he would not enter into any action of an enemie agaynst the Venetians vntill the French king had begon the warre Thus the yere 1508. ended with many sedes of great warrs fundations subtelly
laied of many dangerous accidēts mutations which be the wretched ordinary traynes of ambition diuision secret hates About this time also thaffaires of the Pisans suffering of late many declinations seemed dayly to diuolue more and more into harder straiter tearmes for besides that the Florentins the sōmer before had cut downe their corne and with their men at armes made cōtinuall incursions vpon the townes adioyning euen to the gates of Pisa yet the better to cut of all passage and traffike of vittels by sea they enterteined in their pay the sonne of Bardell of Portouenere with certen proportions of vessels by which impediment the Pisans standing as it were besieged both by sea land and not hable by reason of their pouertie and afflictions to refurnish themselues neither with vessels nor forrein souldiers found themselues in great dispaire to holde out any longer being very weakely succored by their neighbors And yet as God seldome giueth so greeuous a sentence of thestate of mans mortalitie as to denyal compassion to men in miserie so the Genovvaies Lucquois owing pitie to the afflictions of their neighbors consulted to conuey into Pisa certaine quantities of corne which being fraughted in a great number of Barkes folowed with two shippes of Genes and two gallions were transported to Spetia from thence to Voreggia to th ende they might be conueyed into Pisa with fourtene brigantins and certen smal barkes according to the direction of the Pisans But the Florentins seking to oppose against this enterprise as wherin consisted their hope or dispaire to get Pisa for that yere they ioyned to the nauy they had alredy a ship of England happly riding in the roade of Lyuorno with certein other fustes and brigantins And to minister to the Nauy at sea with all the succours and preparations they could make by lande they sent all the horsemen with a great portion of the footemen which were hastily leauyed in the Countrey along all those passages and shoares by the which the Nauy of thenemie might runne the course of Pisa either by the mouth of Arna or the ryuer called the dead Floodde entering into Arna The enemies ariued at the mouth of Arna and the Florentin vessels lying betwene the mouth and the dead ryuer and the Landmen commaunding all the apte places had planted their artilleries aswell on this side as beyonde the brinke of the ryuer by the which they should passe In so muche as they seeing no possibilitie to passe further retyred into the ryuer of Genes with the losse of three brigantins laden with wheat By thoccasion of which successe the victorie seeming almost certayne for want of vittels the Florentins to take away all oportunities for vittels to enter by the riuer made a bridge of wood vpon Arna which they fortified with bastillions on both sides the banks And as when afflictions begin to fall they thunder all at once aduersities hauing this in proper not onely to oppresse but also to depriue miserable men of ordinarie comfort so in the same time to cut of all succours of their neighbours the Florentins fell to composition with them of Lucquay for hauing aforetime to represse their insolencies sent part of their footebandes that were within Cascina to sacke the hauen of Voregge and the storehouses wherein were many sortes of silkes belonging to the marchantes of Lucquay The inhabitants of Lucquay made timerou by those rigorous exāples sent their Embassadors to Florence where was accorded that betwene both their common weales there should be a confederation defensiue for three yeres the Lucquois beeing namely and expresly excluded from all power any more to succor the Pisans This confederation to be continued for twelue yeres further if the Florentins should recouer Pisa within a yere and that during the tearme of this league the Florentins alway reseruing the prerogatiue of their rights should not molest thestate of Lucquay touching the possession of Pietra Sancta and Mutron A league opening the principall gap to the ruine of the Pisans But that which was of greatest importance to make easie the conquest of Pisa was the capitulation which they made with the kings Catholike French which being solicited many moneths had suffred many difficulties for the Florentins by the experience of things past feared least it were a meane to draw from them a great quantitie of money and yet the affaires of Pisa to continue in the same degree and on the other part the French interpreted that they deferred cunningly in hope that the Pisans would make a willing restitution their extremities beeing desperate and nowe layde open to all men The French king vnwilling that they should recouer it vnles he did cōmunicat in the price cōmaunded Bardell his subiect to leaue their pay and to Monsr Chaumont to dispatch from Millan six hundred launces for the succors of the Pisans which ioyned to other actions of feare and suspition occupied the Florentins with such perplexities that ceassing all difficulties they entred couenant in this maner That the French king king Catholike should giue no aide nor support to the Pisans also to forbid that frō no places of their subiection obedience nor likewise frō any their confederats or others vnder their protection should enter into Pisa any succors of vittels money munition or men nor any other nature of releefe whatsoeuer That the Florentins so farforth as Pisa were recouered within a yere following should pay to eyther of them within a certeine time fifty thousand duckets And that in the same condition there should continue betwene them a league for three yeres frō the day that they recōquered Pisa In consideration of which league the Florentins should be bounde to defende with three hundred men at armes the estates that they helde in Italie receiuing in like sort for their defence of either of thē a proportion of three hundred men at armes To this capitulation made in cōmon it was necessarie for the Florentins to adde without the priuitie of the king Catholike newe bonds to pay to the French king vnder the same conditions and tearmes fiftie thousande duckets promising withall fiue and twentie thousande more to the ministers of both the kings of which the greatest portion was to be distributed at the discretion of the Cardinall of Amboyse These couenantes albeit they were heauie and costly to the Florentins yet in the opinion of men they brought no lesse infamie to both the kings the one for money abandoning the citie which many times he had assured to be in his protection and which being willingly offred to him the great Capteine had accepted in his name And the other contrarie to the reputation of so many promises made to the Florentins both solde for a vyle price the iuste libertie of the Pisans and constrayned the Florentins to buy of him the power and sufferaunce to recouer that which iustly apperteined to them So mightie now a dayes is the
the oportunities of times other circumstances embrased for the French king within fiftene dayes after the battel had reconquered except the castel of Cremona all that apperteined to him by the diuision which was made at Cambray A conquest no lesse honorable for the king then of great commoditie for the Duchie of Millan and augmenting the reuenues of the king to more then two hundred thousande duckets by yeare About this tyme albeit the armies of the king of Romains had appeared yet in no place neither in action nor showe yet the Pope ioyning him selfe to the fauor of the tyme assayled the townes of Romagnia with foure hundred men at armes foure hundred light horsemen and eight thousande footemen with thartillerie of the Duke of Ferrara whom he had chosen Gonfalonier of the Churche which is a title according to the practise of our tymes that holdes more of dignitie then of authoritie he recommended the charge of this armie ioyntly to Francisco de Castello de Rie Cardinall of Pauia bearing the name of the Legate Apostolike and to Frauncis Maria de la Rouera sonne to Iohn his late brother who being adopted for sonne by Guid. Duke of Vrbin his vncle by the mother side the adoption also confirmed in the consistorie by the Popes authoritie had succeeded the yeare before in the Duchie the Duke of Vrbin beeing dead without other children They ronne with this armie from Cesena towardes Seruia and comming betweene Imola and Faenza they tooke the towne of Solarola and after they had beene certayne dayes at Bastida three myles from Faenza they drewe to Bresiquella whiche is the capitall towne of Val de Moue wherein was newely entred Iohn Paule Mansron with eyght hundred footemen and certayne horsemen who issuing out to feight were trayned into an ambushe and so hoatly charged by Iohn Paule Baillon and Lodovvike de la Mirandola Capteines of the Churche armie that as they woulde haue sought their safetie in the towne the enemie entred Pelmell with them and that with suche furie that Mansron beeing felled from his horse had scarse leasure to retyre to the Castell afore the whiche thartillerie beeing brought and planted the Munitions that were within were sette on fyre at the first blowe An accident that so terrified the defendauntes within that they rendred absolutely the place to the discression of the victor After the whole valley was taken the armie discended into the playne and tooke Garanarola with all the other townes of the countrey of Faenza and so went and encamped before Russi whiche is a borowe situate betweene Faenza and Rauenna but not easie to be taken for that besides it was enuironed with very large and deepe trenches it was defended with sixe hundred footemen forreiners But that which made more vneasie the action of that towne was that there was not in the Churche armie neither that counsell nor that concorde that was necessarie notwithstanding it abounded in strength and forces three thousande Svvyzzers payed by the Pope beeing there newely arryued for which cause albeit the Venetians were not strong in Romagnia yet thinges had no great aduauncement on that side onely Iohn Greeke capteine of thestradiots issuing out of Rauenna with his bands was broken and taken prisoner by Iohn Vitelli one of the Capteines of the Church Lastly after they had remayned ten daies afore Rossi they tooke it by cōposition And the victorie of the king hapning in the same time the citie of Faenza who stood now in her owne power for that the Venetian strēgth was now diminished agreed to acknowledge the Pope for their Lorde if they were not reskewed within fiftene daies by the benefite of which conuention there issued out of Faenza vnder the fayth of the Legate fiue hundred footmen of the Venetians who were stripped by commaundement of the Duke of Vrbin The Citie of Rauenna did the like assone as the armie approched Thus more by the reputation of the victorie of the French king then by his proper forces the Pope conquered in a litle time those townes which he had so long desired in Romagnia in the which as the Venetians helde no other peece then the castell of Rauenna so euer since the first ouerthrowing of their armie there disclosed dayly against them newe enemies for the Duke of Ferrara who till that day had not declared him selfe chased out of Ferrara the Visdomino a Magistrate which the Venetians kept resident there according to the auncient conuentions to minister equitie to their subiectes And taking armes he recouered without impediment Polesma and sonke with Artilleries the Venetian Nauies floating vpon the ryuer of Addice To the Marquis of Mantua were yeelded the townes of Asola and Lunato which the Venetians had taken in the warre they had agaynst Phillip M. Visconte vpon Iohn Frauncis de Gonsagua his great grandfather In Istria Christopher Frangipan occupied Pisinia and Diuinia and the Duke of Brunsvvike who by Caesars commaundement was entred into Friul with two thousande men trayned tooke Feltro and Bellona At his comming together with the brute of the victorie of the French Triesta with the other townes the conquest of which had bene the very welspring and beginning of all the aduersities to the Venetians returned vnder thobedience of Caesar In like sort the Counts of Lodron occupied certayne castels and borowes that were neare them and the Bishop of Trent vsurped Riua and Agresta But amid all these calamities and declinations of fortune there was nothing that so much amased the Venetians since the battell as the taking of the castell of Pesquiero whose strength and situation with other oportunities of the place they supposed would haue stayed the furie of the victor So weake is the holde of hope where is nothing but daunger on all sides that the Venetians standing amased amid so many perills were fearfull that the king would passe further And their condition being made so desperate that the feare that possest them left them no libertie of counsell together with their bandes whiche were retyred to Mestre amongst whom was neither obedience nor order beeing reduced to a very small number They determined and happly to soone to abandon the iurisdiction of the firme lande to th ende to haue no more enemies and no lesse to take from the French king all occasions to drawe neare to Venice for they were not without suspition that in that Citie would ryse some tumult eyther by the people that nowe were growen insolent or by thinnumerable multitude of strangers that dwelt there some for desire of pray and pillage which makes men mutinous and disordered and some for that they would not endure their depriuation of honors and in all things to beare suche a yoke of subiection to the Gentlemen seeing they were Citizens borne by long succession of times in libertie and freedome and most of them of the same bloud and families wherin in so great a dispaire and losse of courage this reason was alleaged in the Senate
alter their thoughtes from oppressing him by intangling them with affayres In whiche regarde he determined but secretly to do all he coulde that the aduersities of the common weale of Venice should haue no further course And in that good disposition of minde he accepted the letters written to him in the name of the Duke of Venice by the which he besought him in great submission to receiue the six Embassadors sente to him of the principalles of the Senate to sue for pardon and absolution These letters beeing read with their petitions published in the consistorie he consented to admit them after he had in fewe words protested that it was the auncient custome of the Churche not to showe itselfe harde or rigorous to such as with repentance of their faultes sought for reconcilement and pardon Thembassadors of the Emperour and the Frenche striued what they could agaynst it putting him in memorie that by the confederation of Cambray he was expresly bounde to persecute them with armes spirituall and temporall till euery one of the confederates had recoueted that which apperteined to him To whom the Pope made aunswere that he had consented to admit them with intention not to giue them absolution if first Caesar who only had not recouered all had not obteyned the things that belonged to him This gaue some beginning to the hope and comfort of the Venetians but that which assured them most in their latest feares was the resolution of the French king to obserue simply and in good fidelitie the capitulation which he had made with Caesar and hauing reconquered all that was his to passe no further with his armie nor breake his limittes And therefore albeit it was in his power after he had taken Pesquiero not onely to accept Verona which had sent Embassadors to yeelde to him but also to occupie Padoa without any impediment together with all the other townes abandoned by the Venetians yet he would in any sort that the Embassadors of Verona should present the keyes of their towne to thembassadors of Caesar whiche were in his armie and for that cause he stayed with all his campe at Pesquiera which he retayned for himselfe for the commoditie of the place notwithstanding it apperteined to the Marquis of Mantua who durst not refuse it to the king leauing to him the reuenues of the towne with promise of recompence At the same time the king had also by accorde the castell of Cremona vnder condition that all the souldiours should depart with goodes and lyfe saued except such as were his subiectes and that the gentlemen of Venice should remayne his prisoners to whom he gaue his fayth for their safetie Vincensa Padoa followed thexample of Verona as also other townes except the citie of Treuisa which being abandoned by the Magistrates and souldiours of Venice had runne also that course if Caesar had sent thither neuer so small a force or at the least any personage of authoritie But Leon. De Dressino one of the exiles of Vincensa went thither to receiue it without strength or armes and without any maiestie of imperie receiuing Padoa in the like sort and beeing entred and admitted the exiles of the same citie newly restored by the Venetians for which benefite they were become faythfull louers of their name began to drawe into tumult by whose example the people of no lesse affection to the gouernment of Venice roase and conspired with one called Marke shoemaker publishing himselfe chiefe and with great cryes and cōcourse of the commons carying into the principall places the banners of the Venetians they cryed with one voyce S. Marke assuring that they would acknowledge no other Emperour nor Lorde To this action was muche helping and concurrant an Embassador of the king of Hungarie who in his way to Venice passing by Treuisa and beeing throwne happily into this tumult perswaded the inhabitantes not to rebell In so much that after they had chased out Dressina and put into the citie seuen hundred footemen of the Venetians the armie also entring a little after whiche was nowe increased with bandes of footemen comming from Slauonia with the remaynders of the armie returned from Romagnia hauing an intention to encampe in some strong place betwene Margueta and Mestra They fortified the towne in great diligence and made their horsemen skoure the places of the countrey thereaboutes procuring from all partes great releefe of vittels aswell for the necessitie of that citie as for the vse of the towne of Venice wherein they gathered great quantities from all sides ioyning an incredible diligence to the sodayne fauours which their fortune seemed to recomfort them withall The principall occasion of this accident to confirme in the Venetians a hope to reteine yet some parte of their dominion together with many other great aduentures that followed was the negligence and disordred gouernment of Caesar of whom in so great a course of victorie there was heard no other thing then his name notwithstanding by the meane of the French armes and for their feare so many townes had bene rendred to him which was very easie for him to keepe Onely after the confederation made at Cambray he occupied certayne time in Flaunders to leauye of the people a loane of money to furnishe his warres which he had no sooner got into his possession then according to his custome he spent it vnprofitably And albeit at his departing from Macklin with all pompes and ceremonies imperiall and beeing come very neare to Italie he made publication that he woulde beginne the warre at the tearme appoynted to him in the capitulation yet beeing oppressed with his accustomed difficulties and confusions he aduaunced no further notwithstanding the Pope egde him with great importunities for the feare he had of the French armes wherein to giue him a more lyfe to thenterprise and to make him no lesse hable to thaction he sent to him by Constantin of Macodina fiftie thousande duckets consenting withall to the hundred thousande duckets which had bene leauyed certayne yeres afore in Germanie and reserued to make warre vpon the infidels Besides all this he had receyued of the French king an hundred thousande duckets for thinuestiture of the duchie of Millan and was aduertised of the fortune of the battell of Vailo as he drewe neare to Ispurch and notwithstanding he dispatched with great diligence the Duke of Brunsvvike to recouer Friul yet he moued not as in suche a concurrance of occasions had bene conuenient for want of money the taxes whiche he had imposed and drawne from so many places not beeing hable to suffice his prodigalities At laste he arriued at Trente from whence writing letters congratulatorie to the king he gaue many thanks that by his meane he had recouered his townes and assured him that the better to expresse the good will he bare to the king and withall to wype out all memories of offences past he had caused to be burned a booke which was kept at Spires conteining
an authentike register of all the iniuries which the French kings in times past had done to thempire and nation of Germanie confessing that since the king had accompanied his promise with suche honor and fidelitie that he could do no lesse in common office then for his part to dissolue all remēbrances of things that might minister occasions to be vnthankfull to so great an affection The Cardinall of Amboyse came to him to Trent the thirtenth day of Iune to communicate of their common affaires who beeing receyued with demonstrations well testifying the amitie he bare to his king promised him on the kings behalfe a succor of fiftie launces In so muche that after they had with great agreement giuen directions for other affayres it was resolued that Caesar and the king should speake together in plaine feeld neare the towne of Gard vpon the Marches of both the one and others countreys For which cause the Frenche king prepared to be there at the day appoynted and Caesar in the same regarde came to Riua de Trente bringing in neither of their mindes any suspition the one allured by good experience of benefite and fidelitie and the other assured by the consideration of the same But suche are the variations of Princes and their ordinarie subiection to suspitions and ielousies that themprour after he had bene there onely two houres returned immediatly to Trenta signifying to the French king that by occasion of new accidents hapned at Friul he was constrayned to departe sodenly desiring him to stay at Cremona till he returned to giue perfection to the enterview determined This varietie if notwithstanding it be possible in a Prince so inconstant to finde out the truth many attributed to his credulitie lightnes of belefe some men blowing into his eares something that made him enter into suspition Others made this thoccasion that hauing so small a Court accompanied with a trayne ill appoynted he thought he coulde not present himselfe with that dignitie and reputation as might holde comparison with the pompe and greatnes of the French king who for his part desiring to dissolue his armie to be deliuered of so great a burden no lesse to returne with spede into Fraunce tooke his way to Millan not tarying for themperours signification notwithstanding the bishop of Gurce whom themperour had sent for that effect following him euen to Cremona solicited him muche to tarrie making promise that without all exceptions themperour would returne The discamping of the armie and person of the French king from the confines of Caesar diminished greatly the reputation of his affayres And yet albeit he was accompanied with suche multitudes of men that he might easily refurnish Padoa and the other townes yet he sorbare to sende garrison thither either for thinconstancie of his nature or that he thoughte afore hande to sette vppon some other enterprise or lastely that he interpreted it more to hys honour to discende into Italie wyth a greater armie And whiche more is he pretended as thoughe the former actions had had their due perfection that together wyth the ioynt forces of the whole confederates they should assayle the Citie of Venice A matter very plausible to the French king but greeuous to the Pope and no lesse impugned with open reasons by the king of Aragon About this tyme the Florentins put their laste hande to the warres agaynst the Pisans for after they had cutte off all succours and entrie of graynes into Pisa they leauyed newe bandes to th ende by aduauncing all thindustrie they coulde to choake all their course of vittelles bothe by sea and lande A matter that was subiect to difficultie for the neighborhood of the countrey of the Lucquois who when they coulde secretly doo it obserued wyth a verye negligent fayth their accorde newly made with the Florentins the necessities of their neighbours preuayling aboue the bonde of their promise othe or fidelitie But notwithstanding the secrete succours of those good neighbours the wante of vittayles more and more encreased within Pisa an affliction aboue all others least tollerable and most contrarie to the kinde of man expressing in that aduersitie a peculiar frayltie The souldiours of the playne countrey could not endure it which made those principalls of the Citizens in whose handes rested al publike resolutions being folowed with the greatest part of the youth of the Citie the better to loll the countrey souldiours with deuises accustomed to introduce by the meane of the Lorde of Plombin a practise of accorde with the Florentins An action wherein were artificially consumed many dayes and for whiche the Florentins sent to Plombin Nicholas Machiauel their secretorie the Pisans electing for Embassadors both Citizens and countrey men It was very harde to enclose Pisa for that it stoode in a felden large and full of dytches and marris neyther coulde the entry of vittelles be hindred by any easie meane speciallye by nighte bothe for the faythfull industrie of the Lucquois to refurnishe them and the desperate myndes of the Pysans refusing no perill wherein was anye oportunitie of prouision But to ouercome those difficulties the Florentine Capteines determined to deuide their armie into three partes bestowing one parte at Messana withoute the gate of Plagei the seconde at Saint Peter de Rene and Saint Iames ouer agaynst the gate of Lucquay and the thirde was appoynted to the auncient Temple of Saint Peter d'ingrado standing betweene Pisa and the mouth of Arna In euery campe beeing well fortified they bestowed a thousande footemen with conuenient numbers of horsemen And to let that none shoulde passe ouer the mountaynes by the waye of the vale of Osola whiche leadeth to the mount Saint Iulian they buylded towardes the great hospitall a Bastillion capable of two hundred and fyftie footemen By these impedimentes the Pisans fell more and more into want of vittelles who seeking to gette by pollicie that whiche they dispayred to obtayne by force deuised that Alphonso Mutulo a young man of Pisa but of base condition who beeing aforetyme taken prisoner by the Florentin souldiours and receiuing many pleasures of his keeper shoulde offer to bee thinstrument to make them surprise the gate that goeth to Lucquay Their deuise bare this meaning that at the same tyme that the campe whiche was at Saint Iames shoulde go by nighte to execute thenterprise they woulde not onely oppresse it when one parte was entred but also woulde charge the other campes of the Florentines whiche according to the resolution were to approache more neare the Citie but for that they made not their approche rashely nor in disorder the Pisans wonne no other thing by this practise but the lyues of certayne particulars who at the signe giuen were come to the first gate thinking to enter the Citie amongst whom was slayne with a shotte Paule de Parana captayne of a companie of lighte horsemen to the Florentins and Canaio de Pratovechio to whome Alphonso Mutulo had bene prisoner and vnder his assuraunce
retyred eftsones to their tentes The day after the charge recontinued thartillerie not ceassing to thunder with terrible furie some of them by their incredible hugenesse and vnmeasurable quantitie of powder that was vsed pearced thorow the rampiers reuersed the houses that ioyned nearest the walles A furie which in short time shaked downe to the grounde many places of the wall the bastillion also buylded vppon the gate of All saintes beeing dismantelled and razed without that the defendantes afflicting the campe with continuall volleys of shotte shewed any signe of feare So resolute is the vertue that feightes for honour and libertie The stradiots that in great valour encamped in the suburbes refusing alwayes to retyre into the towne and the light horsemen making continuall incursions in all places skirmished with their enemies sometimes before and sometimes behinde driuing them euen to their tentes sometimes they distressed suche as were gardes to the forraigers and vittellers and sometimes ouerrunning the whole countrey with pray and pyllage they spoyled all the wayes except that which goeth from Padoa to the mount of Aban And yet there was in the campe a wonderfull abundance of vittelles euery house and place beeing plentifullye furnished for that neyther the feare of the paysantes nor the carefull diligence of the Venetians nor the infinite harmes of the souldiours on both sydes coulde not drayne or drye vppe the incredible plentie of that moste fruitefull and fertill countrey At the same tyme also Luke Maluezzo issued out of Padoa with certayne trowpes of horsemen for the conuey of fortie thousand duckets which were sent thither from Venice and albeit in his returne the enemie charged him vpon the tayle yet his vertue brought in the treasure in safetie without any other losse then one of his men at armes By the nynth day thartillerie had executed so well that it seemed there was no further necessitie to shoote and therefore vsing all benefites that the tyme offred the day following the whole army appeared in order of battell to approch the walles but finding that the same night they within the towne had made swell and ryse the water of the ditche whiche affore was abated and falne Caesar gaue order that euery bande shoulde returne to his place holding it neither honorable nor necessarie to commit his souldiours to a daunger so manifest The next day the water eftsones abated and retired when embrasing thopportunitie they gaue an assault but with slender successe to the bastillion which was made vpon the point of the gate of Godalonga wherin themperor disposed to do what he could to force it caused to be turned thither thartilleries that were planted in the quarter of the Frenche encamping betweene the gates of All Saints Codalonga And with those artilleries hauing done great execution of that place he folowed it with an assalt two daies after with the footmen of thAlmains and Spanish accompanied with certaine men at armes on foote who in the furie of the fight ascended the bastillion and set vp there two ensignes But the fortresse of the diche was suche and the vertue of the defendants nothing inferior and so plentifull thinstrumentes of defence not onely concerning artilleries but also of stones and wildfires that they were constrayned to descend by heapes many remayning dead on the place and some falling into the fortune of imprisonment In so much as th armie that stoode in readines to giue thassalt immediatly vpon thaction of the bastillion retired and disarmed without making any other attempt iudging it no stayne to their honor to abandon thenterprise wherin was no hope of their safetie By this experience Maximilian lost wholly all hope of the victorie in which consideration he determined his labor with his fortune breaking vp his campe after he had bestowed his artilleries in places sure he retyred with his armie to the towne of Limini towards Treuisa This was the seuententh day after he was encamped before Padoa and so with many baytes resting places he came at last to Vincensa from whence after he had taken of that people the othe of fidelitie and almoste dismissed his whole armie he drew toward Verona being not a litle discontented that his deliberations had taken no better succes but more touched with perturbation for that they bare blame and slaunder both in his armie and throughout all Italie for that the execution of things were in deede no lesse infamous then the counsels for both for that he had missed of the taking of Treuisa and also that he had lost Padoa no man doubted that it was not his fault and also that his too late arriuing afore Padoa made the action more hard for that in that negligence the Venetians tooke oportunitie and good aduauntage of time to make prouision of souldiours to refurnishe Padoa with vittels and to rayse wonderfull fortifications to resist th execution that was determined And albeit himselfe could not denie that in that propertie of error consisted not the defence of the citie yet cloaking the vice of his owne varietie and proper disorders he laide the fault from himselfe and complayned of the Pope and French king for that the one had suffred the Embassadours of Venice to go to Rome and the other had bene too slowe to sende succours the same giuing occasion to the world to beleue that they were estranged from him and had likewise encoraged the countreymen of the mountaines of Vincensa to draw to rebellion for the subduing of whom after he had consumed many dayes he founde afterwards in regarde of the same occasion the selfe same difficulties in the playne countreys Also the better to open to him selfe a way to reuittell his armie and to assure his prouisions and withall to deliuer his companies from many incommodities he was constrayned to take all the townes of the countrey Herein the slowe marching of the Frenche had not onely muche hurt him but also if they had come in due season and time the reuolt of Padoa had not hapned He complayned also that aswell for these hinderaunces as for that the French and king of Aragon had dismissed their armie at sea the Venetians had the better oportunitie and meane to refurnishe and refortifie Padoa standing deliuered from all other feares Lastly he complayned that those difficulties were acceptable to the king of Aragon as meanes to induce him to consent more easily that thadministration and gouernment of the kingdome of Castillo should be to him But these complayntes did nothing better his fortunes and much lesse recouered his authoritie lost for that he was negligent to vse so rare occasions for it did nothing discontent the Frenche king that the worlde was possessed wyth suche an opinion of him and in the Pope was lesse care or affection for that beeing of his proper inclination suspicious and distrustfull and weighing withall themperours continual necessities and wants of money with his importunities to demaund it he was vnwilling that his name should encrease
bastillion that was on Ferrara side Affore this worke was accomplished the Duke deuised either to reuerse it or atleast to hinder it and with a councell happly more courageous then discreete he called together all the youth of the towne with such companies of souldiours as were come to his paye and sent them out to assaile the bastillion but it was an enterprise in vaine for that the defendants receiuing succors of their peoples which issued out of the vessells beganne to disorder the ennemie and put them to flight wherein albeit the Duke him selfe came to the medley with a fresh succor of horsemen and with his presence brought a newe hart to most of his people not trayned in warre yet such was the furie of the ennemie for whom the sewertie of the place fought being manned with many peeces of small shot that in the ende he was constrained to retyre leauing many of his people either deade or taken and that not so many of the inexperienced and base multitudes as of the most braue souldiours and nobility of Ferrara Amongest them was Herc. Cantelmo a younge man of greate hope and whose Auncestors affore tyme were Dukes of Sore in the kingdome of Naples The fortune of this man was more tragicall then of any of the residue for that as certaine Slauonian souldiours led him prisoner into a gallie and contending amongest them selues for the interest of his body there was one of them who with a new example of barbarous crueltie miserably stricke of his heade for these perills ioyned to the manifest apparance of extremity to the towne of Ferrara Monsr Chaumont sent to the succors of it the lord of Chastillion with an hundred and fifty french launces And the Pope being kindled against the Venetians for entring into that action without any regard to the superioritie which the Churche hath there appoynted the two hundred men at armes which he had sent to Caesar to be conuerted to the defence of Ferrara But it might haue hapned that these succors had bene to slow if the Venetians had not bene compelled to looke to the defence of their owne estate it hath bene declared before how the french King was not discontented with the difficulties of Maxymylian partly for the continuall feare he had of his prosperitie and partly for that burning in desire to make him selfe Lord of Verona he hoped by his necessities to haue it on him at last either by purchasse or by ingaging on the other side he was not a litle ielous ouer the Venetians and no lesse was his discontentment that their greatnes was eftsoones reestablished which would nourish continuall perill and perplexitie for his Duchie of Myllan And therefore Caesar not hauing sufficiently refurnished Verona for want of money the french king was constrained to enter into care of thinges and in sending new companies besides those men at armes which were entred there already to foreseethat that citie returned not to their obedience To this Monsr Chaumont gaue beginning who after the losse of Vincensa being drawne vpon the marches of Verona reteyned in the french Kinges pay two thowsande spanish footemen which were within Verona who beganne to draw into tumult for want of payment he sent thether for a greater sewertie other bandes of footemen according to the aduice of Tryuulce who for that Monsr Chaumont feared least the Kinge would be discontented with so great expenses made aunswer that it was a lesse euill that the King charged him with thexspenses of his money then by sparing his treasor to lose or put in daunger his estate the one bringing saffetie to the Kings thinges and in the other no honor nor reputacion to the place he held vnder the Kinge Besides this he lent to Caesar eyght thowsand duckats to pay the souldiours that were within Verona receiuing in pawne both for the repayment of that summe and others which hereafter he should aduaunce for his affayres the towne of Vallegge a place which the king esteemed muche for the sewertie of Bresse both for the nearenes beinge within six miles of Bresse and for thoportunitie of the passage ouer the riuer of Myncia which is alwaies commaunded by such as are Maisters of Valegge and Pesquiero The marching of Monsr de Chaumont being followed with the most part of the launces in the Duchie of Myllan together with the companies which he had put into Verona and the rumor that ronne of his preparacion to besege Vincensa were the causes that the Venetian armie leauing for the defence of Polisena and to succor their nauie foure hundred light horsemen and foure hundred footemen retyred from the contrey of Ferrara deuiding them selues into Leguago Soaue and Vincensa And being careful to assure Vincensa to prouide that the contrey there about were not distressed by the garrison of Verona they fortified it with a wonderfull trench full of water enuyroned with a rampier whereon were dispersed many bastillions it began from the foote of the mountaine which lieth aboue Soaue reaching about fiue miles along the plaine that leades from Rouigne to Montfort it ended at a corner of certain marishes which ioyne to the riuer of Adice They also fortefied Soaue and Leguague by which meane standing vpon their gard all the winter they assured the whole contrey And albeit by the retyring of the Venetian regiments the daunger of Ferrara was somewhat diminished yet it was not altogether taken away for that though they were acquited of all feare to be forced yet they were troubled with a suspicion least the people for the great harmes they receiued would decline to an vtter weakenes or els fall into the last despeire for the souldiours of the nauie and their followers ronne vp euery day euen to the gates of the towne and other vessells of the Venetians which had on an other side distressed the state of the Duke of Ferrara had taken Comache And putting diligence to their fortune they were troublers of those places in many sortes of afflictions About this time arriued the companies of the Pope the french king by whose coÌ„fort the Duke who being warned affore by the harmes receiued in thassalt of the bastillion was incamped in a strong place neare to Ferrara began to make many incursions proffers to draw thennemies to battel who hoping that their army would returne refused to feight before And as there can be no action of warre without his proper fortune calamity â—o in these entercourses of saillies skirmishes it hapned one day the Cardinal of Este hauing ronne vp neare to the bastillion as he returned backe a shot came out of one of the vessels of thennemies which caried away the head of the Count Lodovvyk de la Mirandola one of the Capteines of the Church none other in so great a multitude being hurt either with that or any other shot At last the knowledge experieÌ„ce of the coÌ„trey ioined to the nature oportunity of the riuer made easie
was the violence and furie of the spirit that gouerned him that notwithstanding by the trauells he had suffered in so greatan accident both in body mind his maladie was made much worse yet he began to make new leauies of souldiours and to stirre vp the Venetians who at last had cast a bridge betweene Ficquerolo and Stellate to send vnder the Marquis of Mantua one part of their armie to Modena to ioyne with his and with the other part to vexe and molest Ferrara assuring them that within few dayes he should haue Reggia Rubiere and Ferrara The ambicion of his mind made him apt to hope for all thinges and to dispaire in nothing And what seemed vnpossible in reason arte or pollicie he made no dout to bringe to passe by the benefit of his fortune which he supposed was of power to remoue all the difficulties that could be obiected against him The Venetian bandes deferred to passe the riuer for the perill they had ronne into if the death of the Pope had hapned as was douted But being in the ende compelled to yeelde to his wills after they had left the other bandes vpon the shoare beyond Pavv they sent towards Modena fiue hundred men at armes A thowsand six hundred light horsemen fiue thowsand footemen but not vnder the conduction of the Marquis of Mantua who staying at Sermydy to leauye horsemen and footemen to th ende to marche afterwards to th armie as he sayd notwithstanding the Venetians were already entred into suspicion of his longe abiding went to S. Felix A borow belonging to Modena There he receiued aduertisement that the frenche that were within Verona were entred into the contrey of Mantua to pillage it And therefore alleaging the necessity to go to defend his estate he returned from thence to Mantua hauing the Popes leaue but not without great complaints of the Venetians for that notwithstanding his promisse to make present returne being already entred into suspicion of his faith they beleeued all Italy almost was partaking in that opinion that Chaumont to giue him an excuse not to go to the armie had suffered certeine french bandes to make incursions vpon his contrey This suspicion was increased by a letter which he wrote from Mantua to the Pope that he was not able to marche for a sicknes that was newly beflane him desiring that his good will might be holden for recommended hauing his bodye subiected to his infirmitie After the bandes of the Pope the Venetians and the spanish launces were reassembled and vnited into one armie about the confyns of Modena if they had ioyned diligence to thopportunitie and marched it was thought that Chaumont had abandoned the citie of Reggio and reteyned the Citadell hauing vpon his discamping from Bolognia dismissed all his Italian footemen for auoyding of exspences But taking aduauntage of their slownes and making their negligence a helpe to his fortune he began of new to leauye bandes of footemen determining onely to looke to the gard of Sassuola Rubiera Reggio and Parma But as the armie lay vpon the marches of Modena without direction whether they should passe further or turne against Ferrara certeine trowpes of the Church which ronne vp towards Reggia being put to flight by the french lost an hundred horses and Count de Mateligne taken prisoner At which time the Duke of Ferrara together with the Lorde of Chastyllion with the french bands lay incamped vpon the riuer of Pavv betwene the hospitall and Bondin on the opposit to the Venetian regiments which were beyonde Pavv whose nauy seeking to retyre for the sharpnes of the season and for the ill prouision that came from Venice being charged by many barkes of Ferrara whose artilleries sonke eight vessels to the bottom retyred with great paine by Nevvcastell vpon Pavv into the ditch that falleth into Tanare and Adice and there is seperat Immediatly after the Pope gaue order that the armie gouerned by Fabricio Colonno for that the Marquis of Mantua was not come should draw streight to Ferrara leauing the Duke of Vrbyn for the gard of Modena And albeit most of the Capteines blamed this councel being both preiudicial daungerous yet he eftsoones reassured them with a hope almost certeine that the people would draw into tumult so violent was his desire aboue all reason aboue all councel aboue all pollicie and aboue all experience But the mindes of men gouerned by desire are full of variacions and subiect to mutabilitie and chaunge for the same day they departed they were eftsoones returned by his commaundement keeping from the knowledge of euery one thoccasion that moued him so suddeinly to alter his determinacion And leauing there his first deuises and plotts the armie marched incamped affore the towne of Sassuola whether Chaumont had sent fiue hundred Gascons footemen After they had battred it two dayes to the great pleasure and contentment of the Pope who hearde in the same chamber the noyse of thartilleries that battred Sassuola wherin not many dayes before he had heard to his great disliking the thundring of thennemies shot that were about Spilimberto They gaue the assalt which with small a doe succeeded haply to them for that the footemen that were within fell into disorder And after the artillerie being immediatly presented before the castell whether they were retyred they yeelded almost without any composicion with the same infamie and infelicitie of Iohn Casalo that was their Capteine which he had felt suffered at the same time that Duke Valentynois tooke the castell of Furly he was a man of very lowe and base place but for that in the flower of his age he had bene conformable to Lodovvyk Sforce he was now risen to some honorable degree his fortune and not his vertues preferring him and the fauor of others more then his proper merits making him able to the opinion credit that he had After the taking of Sassuola the armie tooke also Formingo And the Pope appoynting by his direction that they should goe and take Montechio which is a place of strength and importance standing betweene the high way and the Mounteine vpon the frontyers of Parma and Reggia and part of the territory of Parma notwithstanding it is holden by the Duke of Ferrara Fabricio Colonno refused to execute the direction alleaging that his king had forbidden him to molest any thing that was vnder the iurisdiction of thEmpire Monsr Chaumont prouided not for these disorders who hauing left within Reggia Monsr d'Aubigny with fiue hundred launces and two thowsand Gascons vnder Capteine Molard was gon him selfe into Parma the king hauing sent him word to absteine as much as he could from exspenses for the king perseuering in his deuise to temporise vntil the spring made no purueyance for th affayres on this side the Mountes by meane whereof his reputacion declyned in Italy and the courage of his enemies augmented more and more And the Pope impatient that his armie aduaunced no more not admitting
Bolognia hapned through his fault by which occasion followed the fleeing of the armie followed him with a small traine And thrusting in amongest his gard of horsemen who for reuerence sake made him place he slew the Cardinall with his owne handes he might happly seeme worthy for the degree he held vpon whom violent handes should not be layed but touching his infinit vices he deserued most cruell punishment his faultes being farre greater then the opinion that went on them his vertues farre lesse then were conuenient for such a prosession Assoone as the report of his death was brought to the Pope he began to lamēt with miserable cryes and complaynings being not a litle moued for the losse of a Cardinall so deare to him but much more touched that such a holy dignitie fell into violacion almost euen affore his eyes by the handes of his owne Nephew with an example not vsed A matter so much the more greeuous to him by how much he made profession to preserue exalt the authoritie Ecclesiastike These sorowes he was not able to beare and much lesse to temper his furie in which respect as also with the presence of the place to pretermit the memorie of the fact he departed the same day from Rauenna to returne to Rome And to th ende that at one time he were enuyroned on all partes with infinit calamities he was no sooner arriued at Rymyny then he had aduertisement that within Modena within Bolognia and in many other cities there were fixed and set vp many placards in publike places by the which was denownced to him the conuocacion of the councell with citacion to go thether in person For as the Bishop of Gurcy after he was gon from Modena had trauelled certeine dayes by easie iorneies exspecting the aūswer of the Skottish Embassador who went from him to Bolognia for affayres which the Pope him selfe had propownded so he being eftsoones returned with aunswers very vncerteine the Bishop of Gurcy dispatched immediatly to Myllan in the name of Caesar three Proctors who ioyning with the Cardinalls and with the Proctors of the french king published the councell to be celebrated the first daye of September next in the citie of Pysa The Cardinalls made choyse of Pysa as a place no lesse conuenient for the oportunitie of the sea for those that were there to assemble then of speciall sewertie for the confidence the french king had in the Florentyns And withall for that many other places which though they might haue bene capable of such an assembly yet they were eyther inconuenient or suspected or atleast the Pope might refuse them with iust cooller There had bene no conueniencie to assemble it in Fraunce or in other place of the kinges obedience and Constance one of the free townes of Germany recommended by Caesar seemed for this action to beare no indifferencie notwithstanding it had bene made notable by that worthy councell wherein three Popes were deposed and the schisme confounded that had continued for fortye yeares in the Churche And in Thurin was more matter of suspicion to both partyes for the neighbourhood of the Svvyzzers and the estates of Fraunce Bolognia affore it was out of thobedience of the Churche was not sure for the Cardinalls and now it standes in the lyke case for the regarde of the Pope Moreouer in thelection of the towne of Pysa was partely respected the felicitie of an example paste touchinge the memorye of two councells which had beene there right happely celebrated the one when almost all the Cardinalls who abandoned Gregorye the twelue and Benet the xiij quarrelling together for the Popedom choase Pope Alexander the v. celebrating the councell in that citie And the other which was long tyme before celebrated in the same place about the yeare a thowsande one hundred and xxxvj by Innocent the second at such tyme as Peter Leon Antipape of Rome was condemned who making him selfe be called Anacletus the seconde with suche a schisme had not onely much troubled Innocent but also all the regions of Christendom The Florentyns had affore accorded Pysa to the french king who required it of them giuing them to vnderstand that Caesar no lesse then he was the Author of the conuocacion of the councell the king of Aragon also consenting and concurring in it In this action the Florentyns deserue to be praysed more perhaps for their silence then for their wisedome or constancie for eyther not hauing the courage to deny the king the thinge that was greeuous to them or not considering howe many difficulties and daungers might growe vppon them by a councell which was celebrated agaynst the Popes will they helde so secrete that deliberacion that was made in an assembly or councell of more then an hundred and fifty Citizens that the Cardinalls to whom the french king gaue hope of their conformetie were neuer assured that they had accorded neyther had the Pope any knowledge of it The Cardinalls pretended that the councell might be iudicially called by them without thauthoritie of the Pope for the present necessitie as they sayd that the Church had to be reformed not onely in her members but also in her heade meaning the personne of the Pope They published him to be so hardned in simonie and corrupted with maners infamous and damnable both vnfit to gouerne the Papacie and Author of so many vniust warres that he was incorrigible to the vniuersall slaunder of all Christendom for the sauetie and preseruacion of whome there was no other medicine sufficient then the conuocacion of a councell whereof seeing the Pope made no care they alleaged that the full and legittimat power of conuocacion was diuolued to them specially thauthoritie of the elect Emperour being adioyned and the consent of the right Christian king together with the Cleargie of Germany and Fraunce concurring They perswaded that to vse often this medicine was a meane not onely profitable but necessary for the diseased bodie of the Church both to roote out the olde errours and to resist such others as would of newe budde vp To explayne and interpret the dowtes which dayly hapned and to correct thinges which though in the beginning were sownd and well ordered yet in that tryall they appeared pernicious by experience That for these reasons the auncient fathers in the councell of Constance had wholesomely enacted and prouided that for alwayes afterwardes the councell should be celebrated from ten yeares to ten yeares The Popes had no other bridle then this to holde them from going out of the right way And without this weighing with the naturall frailtie of men the many inticements which nature breedes in vs to doe euill during our life what sewertie could remeyne to kingdoms and regions if he that tooke to him selfe all liberty and licence might stand exempted from all authoritie and were assured that he should neuer come to giue a reckoning of him selfe On the other side many occupied these reasons pertaking more with the doctrine of
for the king of Aragon whome the late victorie of the french king had confirmed in very great suspicion had suddeinly layde aside all the great preparacions which he had made to passe in person into Afryca where he menteyned continuall warres with the Moares And hauing called home from thence Peter of Nauarre with three thowsand spanish footemen he sent him to the Realme of Naples both to thend to assure at one tyme his owne estates and to giue courage to the Pope to be so much the more estraunged from the peace In so much that by these encouragements conformable to his owne variable disposicion the Pope made aunswer that he would not heare of peace onles the Venetians might be accorded with Caesar onles Alfonso d'Este ouer and besides the first demaundes made him satisfied of all thexpenses which he had defrayed in the warre And lastly onles the king were bownde not to hinder him in the recouerie of Bolognia which citie as a rebell to the Church he had already put vnder Ecclesiasticall interdiction And to make a spoyle of the corne of their contrey he had sent into Romagnia Mar. Anth. Colonno and Ramassore who notwithstanding were easily chassed by the people being skarcely entred into the frontyers Notwithstanding this aunswer the Pope what by the peticions of the Cardinalls and for other priuat respects assoone as he came to Rome consented to the deliuerie of the Cardinall of Achx hauing bene till that daye kept prisoner within the castell of S. Angeo but to his libertie he ioyned this condicion that he should not goe out of the pallaice of Vatican till all the Prelats and officers that were taken within Bolognia were sette at libertie and afterwards that he shoulde departe from Rome vnder payne of fortye thowsande duckattes for the which he was to putte in sufficient sewertie And yet not longe after he suffered him to returne into Fraunce with charge not to bee at the councell vppon the lyke payne The Popes answer moued so much the more the mind of the king by how much he was perswaded that he should consent to the condicions which he him selfe had offered And therefore determining to withstande him in the recouerie of Bolognia he sent thether immediatly a new strength of foure hundred launces and not long after he tooke into his protection the citie with all the famulie of the Bentyuoleis without receiuing of him any couenant to minister eyther men or money And knowing that thalliance of Caesar was now more necessary to him then euer in place where affore he bare some inclinacion not to giue him those supplies of men which he had promised him in the capitulacion made with the Bishop of Gurcy so farre forth as he passed in person into Italy that being the couenant and condicion of his promisse he gaue present order that from the Duchie of Myllan the bandes that had bene promised should marche thether vnder the gouernment of Monsr de la Palissa for that Tryuulce whome Caesar had required refused the iorney By this tyme Caesar was come to Yspruch nourishing on the one side a greate desire to make warre vppon the Venetians and on the other side he founde him selfe confused with many thoughtes and perplexities for considering that all that he should doe would make vp no matter of substance if he tooke not Padoa and to that enterprise were required so great forces and so mightye preparacions as it was almost impossible to gather together sometymes he suffered him selfe to be caried with a desire to agree with the Venetians whereunto the kinge Catholike vrged him much And sometymes he stoode ouerruled with his owne conceites thinking to marche to Rome in person with his armie to occupie according to his auncient desire all the estate of the Church wherein he layed his plot to leade thether a mightie armie of Almains besides the french companies But what by his disabilities and by his disorders thexecucion of thinges was so farre inferior to thimaginacion that he consumed the tyme without putting any thinge to action sometymes promising to come in person and sometymes giuing a naked hope to sende men By these vncerteinties it seemed greeuous to the king to take vpon him to susteine alone the whole burden of the warre A reason which hauing conformetie with his nature being sparing and holding could doe more in him for the most part then the wise perswacions that many made to the contrary that if Caesar were not mightely succored by him he would at last ioine with his enemies by which it would happen that besides his necessitie to be at a greater charge yet his estates in Italy could not but fall into right manifest daungers Amyd these dowtes and difficulties the tumults of the temporall armes began to grow cold but the fire of the spirituall armes kindled into greater flames aswell on the part of the Cardinalls Authors of the councell as on the Popes side who labored altogether to oppresse such an euill affore it became greater You haue heard heretofore how the councell was denownced signified vnder thauthoritie of the king of Romains and the french king the voices of the Cardinalls of S. Cross S. Mallo Bayeux Cosenso being interposed the Cardinall also of S. Seuerin consenting manifestly and successiuely the Proctors of both the one other king did assist the councels and deliberacions that were made Moreouer and to giue it a greater authoritie the fiue Cardinals Authors of this pestilence added by the way of intimacion the names of other Cardinals of whom Cardinal Albert a french man durst not disobey the commaundements of his king being innocent in all things sauing in the compulsion that was vsed to him to subscribe his consent And for the other Cardinals named by them Cardinal Adrian and Cardinal Finalo protested openly that the matter was wrought wholly without their priuitie consent So that more then six Cardinalls were not manifestly declared of this faction whome for that the Pope hoped to draw them to a voluntary renowncing of the matter he enterteyned with them continuall practise offering to pardon the errours that had bin committed and that with such sewertie that they should not neede to feare any violence or displeasure to happen to them whereunto the Cardinals gaue a dissembled eare beleeuing the Popes promisses no further then they saw them confirmed with good meanes of their saueties But the Pope could not for all this absteyne from most mighty and extreame remedies In so much as following the councell of Antho du Mont saint Sansouyn one of the Cardinalls of his last creacion at Rauenna seeking to purge him selfe of negligence assigned an vniuersall councell in the towne of Rome within the Churche of S. Iohn de Latran for the firste daye of Maye next comming By which conuocacion he pretended that the councell called by his aduersaryes was broken and that in that which he had published was iudicially conteyned the power and authoritie of
the footemen of the launceknightes making a resolute defence aboue all others But passing ouer the bridge of Grauatona which was of wood the plankes breaking with the waight of the horses all the french men and launceknightes that were not yet passed ouer were eyther slayne on the place or taken prisoners That laste calamitie being so much the more lamentable and greeuous by howe much they hoped by their diligence to make waye for their sauetie which they sawe their fortune persecuted to thuttermost The towne of Pauia bownd it selfe to pay a great quantitie of money by whose example also Myllan compownded but for a greater summe And all the other townes except Bressia and Crema fled from the aduersities of the french men â–ª All the contrey cryed now vpon the name of thEmpire the state was receiued and gouerned in the name of the holy league so was it called vniuersally and all affaires disposed by thauthoritie of the Cardinall of Syon assigned Legat for the Pope But the treasor and what soeuer was taxed vpon the townes was made a reward to the Svvyzzers to whom was transferred an interest in all things that concerned gaine or profit the same beeing the cause that many other bandes and trowpes of them discended into Lombardye to ioyne with the residue after the parliament of Zurich was ended which was assembled for that cause In this mutacion the cities oâ— Plaisance and Parma gaue them selues willingly to the Pope who pretended they apperteyned to him as members of Rauenna The Svvyzzers made them selues Lordes of Lucarno and the Grisons got Valuoltolino and Chiauenna places very commodious for them And in the heate of this fortune Ianus Fregosa Capteine of the Venetian armie beeing gonne to Genes with such bandes of horsemen and footemen as he had obteyned of th armie was the cause that that citie reuolted the french gouernor beeing fled whereof he was created Duke A dignitie affore tyme inuested in his father with the same violence of fortune all the townes and castells of Romagnia returned to the Popes obedience And lastly the Duke of Vrbyn approching neare to Bolognia with the bandes of souldiours of the Churche the famulie of the Bentyuoleis left it abandoned their fortune leauing them desperat hauing by these violent degrees depriued them of all hope The Pope pursued this famulie very sharpely excommunicating all the places that should receiue them hereafter he expressed no lesse hatred against the citie And beeing most kindled for their forgetfulnes of so many his benefits bestowed vpon them and in that ingratitude not only reuolting from his obedience but also in their spite had not forborne to spurne his picture and rayle out many villanous words against him he would consent no more that they should create new Magistrates nor communicat any way in the gouernment of the towne he exacted by the meane of seuere officers huge summes of money of sundry Citisens as partakers with the Bentyuoleis yea the opinion ronne that if his deuises had not bene broken by death he had a meaning to destroy that citie and translate thinhabitants to Centa The ende of the tenth Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE ELEVENTH BOOKE THe Duke of Ferrara is in great trouble The Medicis returne to Florence The king of Romains makes alyance with the Pope Maxymylian Sforce is put in the possession of the Duchie of Myllan The French king makes his preparacions to recouer Myllan Pope Iuho dyeth Leon the tenth is created Pope The French men are ouerthrowen neare to Nouaro and the Venetians neare to Vincensa THE ELEVENTH BOOKE OF THE historie and discourse of Guicciardin NOTwithstanding the Pope amyd his greatest aduersities daungers had not onely obteyned victorye of his ennemies contrary to all hope and coniecture but also with the same felicitie had amplified the iurisdiction of the Churche aboue exspectacion and contrary to common equitie yet his auncient couetousnes to the citie of Ferrara the first matter of all these broyles so helde him still ouerruled that he could not make his desires equal to his fortune nor conforme his wandring minde to rest and tranquilletie Such is the rage of couetousnes when it hath thassistance of authority which makes men hard to be contented with that which occasion doth offer for that those things that come first doe abhorre them so long as by the greatnes of their power and place they aspyre and thirst for better But albeit the Pope had violent desires to turne his forces against Ferrara yet the way of peace seeming more easie then the warre or rather hoping more in the benefitte of secret and artificiall practises then in actions apparant and discouered he gaue eare first of all to the Marquis of Mantua who besought him that Alfonso d'Este might come to him to Rome to demaunde pardon and that he woulde eftsoones reclayme him to grace vnder some indifferent condicions In this request was concurrant thEmbassador of the king of Aragon suing for him bothe for that he was the kinsman of his king for Alfonso came of a Daughter of tholde Ferdinand king of Naples and also for that he esteemed it more to the commoditie of the affayres of his kinge to binde him to him by this propertie of benefitte then to suffer so great an estate to bee adioyned to the greatnes of the Churche Moreouer the famulie of the Colonnois beeing become of greate amitie with Alfonso were earnest solycitors in this cause The reason of their compassion was for that after the battell of Rauenna Fabricio Colonno who was Alfonsoes prisoner beeing sent for and requyred of him he vsed so many delayes first in refusing and then in interposing many excuses that by the mutacion that hapned he brought it into his owne power to giue him his libertie without any charge or raunsom At last safe conduit was obteyned for him from the Pope by the sewertie whereof confirmed also with the faith of thEmbassador of Aragon in the name of his king which was protested to him by the consent and priuitie of the Pope he went to Rome his submission beeing greater then his hope to be forgiuen And being come to Rome the Pope admitted him into the Consistorie suspending in the meane while all censures and paynes There with great humilitie he demaunded pardon with the same submission besought him that he might bee receyued into his grace and restored to the fauour of the sea Apostolike offering to doe hereafter all those offices and duties which might apperteyne to a moste deuout and faythfull Vassall of the Church The Pope heard him with a countenance and asspect reasonably peasible and substituted six Cardinalls to debate with him touching condicions of agreement who after certeine dayes spent in disputacion and argument declared to him that the Pope neyther would nor ment to depriue the Church of the citie of Ferrara since it was lawefully reuerted to the imperie of the Churche But in recompense there should be giuen to him the citie of
Lastely that they had to consider howe easily they might resiste so small an armie vnfurnished of money vnprouided of vittells naked of great artilleries all other commodities to beare out the warre if onely the Citie resisted their first furie yea when they found a resolute defence in place of the vayne hopes that had bene giuen to cary Florence at the first assalt they would be easily raunged to agreement vpon reasonable conditions These discourses ranne in the market places and streetes amongst the Citizens but the Gonfalonnier holding it best that the aunswere which the Magistrate was to make to the Viceroy should be communicated with the people called together the great councell and in full presence of the Citizens gaue his opinion in this maner If I thought the demaunde of the Viceroy touched me onely or that his desires were stayed simply vpon particularities I would of my selfe make a resolution conformable to my intention do the thing without your counsel which could not but turne to your common safety for hauing alwayes caried this minde to giue my life for your benefite it could not but be iust in me to resolue of my selfe to renounce the office you haue giuen me to deliuer you from the daungers and harmes of the warre hauing especially worne out both my body and mind with the trauells of the place in so many yeres since you preferred me to it But since it may be that this demaund stretcheth to things further then to me and my priuate interest it is thought good by this honorable assistance by me not to deliberate without publike consent in a matter that so vniuersally concerneth you al lesse seeming that a cause so graue generall should be referred to the councell of that ordinary number of Citizens which are ordinarily called to the priuitie of common thinges but to you in whose persons is resembled the soueraigne Maiestie and presence of this Citie and by whose wisedomes are to passe deliberations of so great importance I induce you not to incline more to the one parte then to the other I referre all to your counsell and iudgement I bring hither no meaning to perswade you to parcialitie I sette not my selfe betweene your affections and the present cause The same you shall resolue the same shall be accepted by me who do not onely laye at your feete the office which is your owne but also my person and life which is to my selfe alone A sacrifice which I would thinke happily dedicated if it had any operation tending to your safetie Examine of what importance the Viceroys demaunde may be for your libertie wherein I beseeche God so to leade your mindes as you maye make election of the better waye If the Medicis were disposed to liue in this Citie as priuate Citisens with conformitie to your lawes and rulers it could not be but vertuous and commendable to suffer them to returne and receiue them to th ende the members of our common countrey might at last be reincorporate into one cōmon body but if they bring with them other intentions and vnder shadowes of conformitie shrowde minds of tyrannie it were good you considered of your danger not holding it greeuous to susteine all expenses and difficulties to preserue your libertie A Iewell whose preciousnes you shall then beste discerne when you shall suffer priuation of it Be not perswaded that the gouernment of the Medicis will be the same it was affore they were expulsed seing the forme and fundations of things are chaunged for then as they had their trayning vp amongest vs almoste as Citisens priuate wealthie in goods according to the degree they helde and not offended of any made their fundation of the good will of the Citisens vsed to consulte with the principalls of publike affayres and labored with the cloke of ciuilitie to couer rather then to discouer their greatnes So nowe that they haue bene so many yeres separate from the lawes of Florence infected with the fashions customes of straungers and by that reason lesse practised in ciuill causes mindefull of their exile and seuerities done to them poore in goods iniuried of so many families according to their own testimonie knowing that the most part of this presence abhorreth tyrannie They will reapose confidence in no citisen nor haue no conformitie to your lawes magistrates but compelled by pouertie suspicion will bring backe to themselues the administration of all things They will not reestablishe good will and loue but recontinue force armes they will reduce this citie in short time to the image and state of Bolognia and to Sienna Perousa in the time of the Bentiuoleis I speake this to such as kepe obseruation of the time and gouernment of Lavvrence Medicis which yet in cōparison of this would seeme a golden age notwithstanding the conditions of that time were hard and the gouernment was a kinde of tyrannie albeit more easie then many others Now it apperteineth to you to resolue wisely and to me either to giue vp constantly this office or else resolutely to apply my selfe to the preseruation of your libertie You are to determine and I to be directed you stande in the handes of your owne councell and I subiected to your arbitration There was no dout what the councell would resolue the whole multitude of the people bearing almost an vniuersall inclination to mainteine the popular gouernment Therfore it was determined by a wōderful accord to cōsent to the returning of the Medicis in the nature of persons priuate and that in no wise the Gonfalonnier should be deposed frō his place against which if thenemies were obstinate then the whole body of the city should be applied to the defence of their liberty countrey not sparing either goods or life in an action so honorable necessary so that disposing all their thoughts to the warre they made prouisions of money sent men to the town of Prato ten miles frō Florence A place which they thought would be subiect to the first violence of the Viceroy who after he had gathered together his army at Barberina together with thartillerie with was drawen with a wōderfull paine both for the yll way of Appenin and also for that for want of money they lacked laborers instruments necessary for the cariage he tooke the way to Prato as had bin supposed he arriued there about the breaking of the daye and euen then beganne with two Falconettes to better the gate Mercatala by the space of an howre albeit little to his profite for that it was mightily rampiered within The Florentins had bestowed within Frato about two thousande footemen the moste parte of their pensioners and the residue leauyed in haste of all sciences and base trades In that number there were very fewe experienced and trayned to the warre They hadde also sente thither with an hundred men at armes Luke Sauello an auncient capteine but yet neyther for his age nor for
ordered helde no honorable place But the consente of the Viceroy was necessarie who exspecting the firste payment whiche for the diuisions in the Citie coulde not so soone be made kepte as yet within Prato and had no fancie what soeuer was the cause that any newe chaunge shoulde bee made in the Citie of Florence notwithstanding the Cardinall ioyning to hym the Marquis of Paluda and Andrevv Caraffe capteines in the armie tolde him that the name of the Spaniards coulde not be but very odious to a Citie agaynst whiche they had done so many harmes That in all occasions they woulde sticke alwayes to thennemies of the king Catholike and that there was daunger least when the armie should departe they woulde reuoke the Gonfalonnier whom they had expulsed by constraint By these perswasions he consented to the Cardinall who assone as he had made agreement resolution of affayres with him came with diligence to Florence into his houses where many capteines and souldiors of thItalians entred some with him and some seperate the Magistrates being affrayed to let their entry for feare of the Spaniards that were at hande The next morning the councell of the multitude of Citizens beeing assembled at the publike pallace to consult vpon thaffaires present Iulian de Medicis being present and assisting the action the souldiours charged the gate of the pallace and climbing vp by ladders they made themselues maisters of the pallace and made pillage of the siluer vessell which laye there of store for the vse and seruice of the Citie There the Citie together with the Gonfalonnier compelled to giue place to thinsolencies of suche as coulde do more with armes and weapons then the Magistrate with reuerence and authoritie called together with the ringing of the great bell by the direction of Iulian de Medicis the people to parliament vpon the pallace grene where suche as went thither being enuironed with armed souldiours and the yong men of the Citie that had taken armes for the Citie they consented that to fiftie Citizens of the Cardinals naming shoulde be giuen the same authoritie ouer publike businesse which all the people had A forme or state of power which the Florentins call Ampla balia By the decree of these men the gouernment being reduced to that forme which it caryed before the yere a thousand foure hundred nintie and foure a garrison established within the pallace the Medicis resumed vpon them the selfe same state of greatnes which their father had but their gouernment was more imperious and with a power more absolute In this sorte and with armes was oppressed the libertie of the Florentins beeing brought to that degree of aduersitie principally by the disagreementes of the Citizens It was thought it had not falne so farre if they had not behaued them selues with great negligence in the defence of the common businesse specially in the laste times not speaking of the newtrality which they vsed very vndiscretly the cowardise of the Gonfalonnier giuing too muche head to thennemies of the popular gouernment The king of Aragon had not from the beginning so great a desire to reuerse the libertie as to turne away that Citie from thalliance of the Frenche king and to drawe some sommes of money to paye his armie In so muche that assone as the Frenche had abandoned the Duchie of Millan he sent to tell the Viceroy that whether the affaires occurrant shoulde drawe him to an other enterprise or for any other occasion he should knowe that the restitution of the Medicis woulde be of harde action that he should take libertie to determine according to the condition of times and agree or not agree with the Citie according to the meane that brought the best oportunitie to his affayres This was his commaundement in the beginning but being afterwardes discontented with the Pope for the violence he would haue done at Rome to Alfonso d'Este and entring withall into suspicion for the threates he gaue publikely agaynst straungers he gaue playnely to vnderstande to the same Embassador of Florence that came to him in the beginning of the warre enioyning no lesse to the Viceroy that there shoulde be no stryuing to alter the gouernment In whiche deuise these two reasons were indifferent to him he iudged that eyther it would be a thing of more suretie to him to preserue the Gonfalonnier who was enemie to the Pope or else he feared that the Cardinall of Medicis being restored would not more depende of the Pope then of him But his last deliberation came not to the knowledge of the Viceroy vntill the daye after the common weale was reduced to the power of the Cardinall By this discourse it may be discerned that if the Florentyns after the french were chassed had looked to assure their affayres by some agreement or at least had made them selues strong with men and soldiours trayned eyther the Viceroy had not marched against them or at least finding resistance he would easily haue bene brought to composicion for money But their destinie was against their sauetie beeing besides the coniectures and comprehension of mans wisedom warned of the perills that were towards them by certein signes in the ayre for not long affore the lightning that fell vpon the gate that leades from Florence to Prato caried away from an auncient shield of Marble a golden flower de Lys which is the enseigne or armes of the french kings An other tyme a flashe of lightning discending from the toppe of the pallaice into the chamber of the Gonfalonnier touched no other thinge then a great vessell of siluer wherein the lotts are wont to be put when they come to bee made equall for the creacion of the great Magistrat And afterwards falling downe it stroke so violently a great stone which laye at the foote of the stayres and bare vp the burden of the building that beeing remoued from his place without any other hurt it seemed that the handes of men had taken him out with a wonderfull knowledge in Archytecture About these tymes or a litle before the Genovvais beating vpon the castell of Genes with thartilleries which the Pope had lent them the castell keeper beeing corrupted with a bribe of ten thowsand duckatts deliuered it vppe to the townes men This treason of the keeper moued partely by feare for that an armie by sea which was sent out of Prouence for the defence of the towne hauing not courage to take land were retyred by whose cowardisse he had no hope to bee succoured But the lanterne held out for the king wherein the same day certeine french vessels had conueyed vittells and other necessary prouisions Assoone as the matters of Florence were dispatched and the money receiued The Viceroy remoued his armie to march to Bressia About which citie the Venetians hauing now appaised the wills of the Svvyzzers were encamped and laye affore the gate of S. Iohn battering at one tyme both the towne and the castell with artilleries planted vpon the
confidence in the naturall inclination and clemencie of the Pope and the other reapposing muche in the auncient friendshippe and straite familiaritie had with him and with his brother There they obteined safeconduit of the capteine of Lyuorna whiche albeit stretched no further then the boundes of his iurisdiction yet without seeking other suretie they went vp in that confidence to Pisa In whiche Citie they were honorably receyued and afterwards in no lesse assurance conueied to Florence where they were kept with that easie and fauourable garde that they had no disposition to departe the same being the desire of the Pope who sent to them the Bishop of Oruietto to exhorte them with words gracious and full of affection that aswell for their proper surety as for the present tranquilitie of the Church they would abyde at Florence vntill the Court had determined in what manner they shoulde come to Rome He willed them also that whereas they had bene iudicially depriued and their depriuation confirmed in the Councell of Latran they shoulde forbeare to go in habites of Cardinalls to th ende that expressing signes of humiliation he might take the better occasion to reduce and readresse their affayres according to their desire and his determination The first act of this newe Pope was his Coronation which was represented according to the vsage of his predecessors in the Church of S. Iohn de Latran The pompe was so great both of his famulie his Court and also of the Prelates and multitudes that were there together with the popular and vniuersall assemblies of peoples that by the opinion and iudgement of men the pride and maiestie of that action did farre surpasse all the celebrations that had bene done in Rome since the tyrannies of the Goathes and sauage nations In this solemnitie the Gonfalone of the Churche was caryed by Alfonso Este who hauing obteined a suspencion of his Censures and paynes was come to Rome wyth great hope that by the clemencie and facilitie of the Pope he should be hable to compounde for his affayres The Gonfalone of the religion of Rhodes was borne by Iulio de Medicis mounted vpon a stately Courser armed at all poyntes by his nature he bare an inclination to the profession of armes but by destinie he was drawen to the life ecclesiastike in which estate he may serue as a wonderfull example of the variation of fortune One matter that made the memorie of that daye wonderfull was the consideration that the person that then in so high and rare pompe was honored with the moste supreme and soueraigne dignitie of the worlde was the yere before and on the very same day miserably made prisoner The great magnificence that appeared vpon his person and his expences confirmed in the generalitie and multitude of men thexpectation that was had of him euery one promising that Rome shoulde be happie vnder a Pope so plentifully indued with the vertue of liberalitie whereof that day he had giuen an honorable experience his expenses beeing aboue an hundred thousande ducketts But wyse men desired in him a greater grauitie and moderation they iudged that neither suche a maiestie of pompe was conuenient for Popes neyther did the condition of the present time require that he should so vnprofitably disperse the treasors that had bene gathered by his predecessor to other vses But suche was the disposition of Princes to warre that neyther the chaunging of the Pope nor the presence nor feare of other accidentes were sufficient to establishe and assure the tranquillitie of Italie euery one discerned that things of their proper inclination tended more to warre then to peace for Caesar woulde heare no more speaking of the rendring of Verona fearing thereby to be depriued of all oportunitie and meane to haue any easie entry into Italie And albeit the truce was prolonged for the full moneth of Aprill yet he kept no rekoning of the condicions of accorde that had bene debated at Millan And in that minde beeing discontented with thinstance and importunities of the king Catholikes Embassadors he stucke not to tell the Count of Carriato that for the inclination he expressed to the Venetians he deserued better to beare the name of an Embassador of Venice then of Spayne But that whiche muche more augmented this disposition was the truce that was made for a whole yere betwene the French king and the king Catholike tending onely to th affayres on the other side the Mountes The oportunitie of which truce gaue to the French king being nowe deliuered of the suspicions of Spayne a great facilitie to renewe the warre in the duchie of Millan The king Catholike had neuer any disposition to haue warre with the Frenche men beyonde the Mountes for that beeing not mightie enough in money and treasor and therefore depending on the forces and aydes of the Barons and peoples of Spayne eyther he had no readynes of succours or else by his necessities in tymes of warre they would holde him with them as it were in subiection But then principally he stoode confirmed in his auncient counsell for that together with his owne tranquillitie and rest he was so muche the more assured of the Realme of Nauarre newly conquered by him and withall for that since the death of queene Isabell his absolute authoritie ouer Castillo beeing embased into a gouernment limited he had not in troubled seasons so great and firme authoritie Of this he had seene a late experience in the action of the kingdome of Nauarre wherein albeit he had an ende happie and honorable yet it happned not by other meane then by the negligence and slownesse of succours And hauing no more desire to returne to the daungers which he had suffred and not knowing yet of the Popes death he agreed to the truce which neuer helesse was not published before he had receyued newes of thelection of the new Pope The better to iustifie him selfe of this vnlooked for deliberation he alleaged that the Pope the Venetians had behaued them selues towards him cleane contrarie to the league for that since the battell of Rauenna they neuer offred to pay to him the fortie thousande duckets as they were bounde whilest the French king possessed any thing in Italie That onely he had had care of the common benefite of the confederates and yet had not attributed to himself the rewards of the common victorie That he did not possesse in Italie so much as a small tower more then that he had before the warre But the Pope had had regarde to his benefite particular and made proper to him selfe the things that were common That he occupied Parma Plaisanca and Reggia and nourished a continuall studie to possesse Ferrara which couetousnesse of his had bene the onely impediment of the recouering of the Castells in the Duchie of Millan and the Lanterne of Genes That touching his parte he had interposed all his diligence and authoritie to worke thaccorde betweene Caesar and the Venetians but the Pope
humor of hate and in the other no lesse resolute the desire of glory There might haue bene seene for nowe the sunne began to showe the estate and diuersitie of the feight sometimes one side to yeelde sometimes the other oftentimes that part to seeme to preuayle which earst was thought to haue the worst on one side and in one time the one battell to swaigh and the other to aduaunce some to exspect aduauntage some to lose no oportunitie one parte to inuade furiously and an other parte to resiste hardly all things on all partes full of dead bodies wounded men and of blood sometimes the capteines would valiauntly enter into thoffice of souldiours bothe striking their enemies and defending them selues and sometimes they woulde discretly manage the place of capteines encouraging prouiding succoring releuing and commaunding there was nothing lesse feared then death nor any thing more abhorred then feare the greatnes of the perill made both sides more resolute then any other thing On the other side the trowpes of men at armes stoode firme without doing any seruice for neither the authoritie the perswasions the commaundementes thexclamations the threatnings nor the example of Triuulco and Trimouillo could do any thing to moue the horsemen whose mindes were already made tymerous Neither the consideration of their owne perill whiche their cowardise made the greater nor the calamities of their fellowes which were redoubled by the feare they showed could once drawe them to the charge They seemed to stande and abide the daunger which by sighting they might haue auoyded It sufficed the Svvizzers to keepe them impaled in their rankes and to let them from ministring succours to the footemen Suche was the calamitie of that feight that those found moste certentie of perill who ventured furthest for their safetie and on such whose feare was greater then their vallour fortune threwe moste fauour and securitie At laste in so great a hardinesse and vallour of such as fought the vertue of the Svvizzers caryed the battell who hauing wonne thartilleries turned them vppon their enemies whom they put to flight aswell by that meane as by their incredible vertue To the flying of the footemen was ioyned the breaking and running away of the men at armes who in that seruice shewed no vertue nor did any thing worthy of merite or prayse onely the lorde Robert la Marche caryed with a vehement affection of a father entred the battell of the Svvizzers with a squadron of horsemen to reskew Florango and Iames his sonnes capteines of Almain footemen who lying sore wounded on the earth his vallour to the great wonder of the Svvizzers drewe them on liue out of that daunger The battell continued about two howres bothe parties receiuing no small discomfiture There was slayne of the Svvizzers about fiueteene hundred bodies of which number was that Capteine Motyn that was the first mouer of that glorious councell his deathes wounde was by a thrust of a pyke thorow the throate But farre greater was the slaughter of thennemies of whome some say were left dead ten thowsand carkasses The most part of the launceknights died in fighting and the greatest execucion and slaughter on the french and Gascon footemen was in fleeing Almost all the horsemen went away in sauetie the chasse being so swlft that the Svvyzzers were not able to followe them if the Svvyzzers had had horsemen they had made their calamitie equall with the footemen their feare beeing greater and their disorder nothing inferior All the baggage and stuffe became a pray to the Victors with xxij peeces of great artillerie and all the horses assigned for the seruice of the same The same day the Svvyzzers returned into Nouarro almost triumphantly but with such reputacion and renowme thorow out the world that what with the consideracion of the magnanimitie of their enterprise the euident reiecting and despising of death the resolucion they showed in the fight the happy and honorable victorie of the same there were some that durst preferre this action almost affore all the enterprises worthy of memorie which we read set downe vpon the Greekes and Romains The french men fled into Pyedomont from whence Tryuulco lost time to cry after them their feare being swifter in fleeing then his force able to follow them Vpon the reaport of this victorie Myllan with all the other places that were declared for the french humbled them selues and sent to demaund pardon which accordingly was graunted to them vppon bondes and condicions to disbursse a great porcion of money Thin habitants of Myllan were taxed at two hundred thousand duckats and euery particular of the others rated according to his behauior The whole taxacion was giuen to the Svvyzzers to whom ought iustly to be transferred aswell the gaine as the glorie of the victorie gotte with their vallour and with their blud And as men whole felicitie made them to accompt it to good equitie to draw all the frute they could they entred afterwards into the Marquisdom of Montferrat and Pyedmont contreyes which they charged to haue receiued the french armie There partly by pillage and partly by raunsoming the poore peoples they raysed a great gaine forbearing notwithstanding to touche either the life or honor of persons The Spanyards also were not altogether depriued of the profits of the victorie for that Ianus lastly chassed out of Genes and Octauian Fregoso both which aspyred to be Duke being retyred to the Viceroy after the battell the Viceroy preferring Octauian for whom the Pope did what he could in regard of their auncient amity and withall receiuing his promise to paye him l. thowsand duckatts when he should be possessed of Genes he deliuered him three thowsand footemen vnder the Marquis of Pisquiero and for his owne part went with the residue of th armie to Chiesteggio making semblance to passe further if neede required As the Marquis and Octauian drewe neare to Genes the brethren of the famulie of Adorno knowing their owne weakenes abandoned the towne without any triall of resistance And immediatly entred Octauian and was created duke of that citie which in the course of a yere had for gouernors the french men Ianus Fregoso the Adorney and Octauian Bartlemevv Aluiano hearing of the ouerthrowe giuen to the french armie and fearing least he should be also put to the chasse by the Spanyards retyred with speede to Pontvvicquo leauing in the way for losing of time certeine peeces of artillerie whose inconueniencie and slownes of cariage might haue bene an impediment to the expedicion of his marching from thence he sent Ranso de Cere vnto Crema And after he had abandoned Bressia he wente to Tomba neare to Adice neuer reaposing in any place longer then the necessitie to refreshe his men and horses did constraine him The reason of his abandoning Bressia disposing Ransa de Cere in Crema was for that he held it a matter very vnprofitable to diminishe th armie wherein were remeining six hundred men at armes a thowsand light
signe that he would neuer be seperate from their enemies Neuerthelesse all these daungers showes of calamities could not make them chaunge their first counsels but standing resolute to make as good head as they could against fortune they sent to their Admirall that was at Corfu to assemble his nauie assayle the marine places of Povvilla And yet considering a litle after of what importance it would be to prouoke so much the king of Aragon they reuoked that councel being more coragious then discrete no lesse for the might and power of the same king then for that he had alwayes showed that he perswaded Caesar to peace The Viceroy remained at Mōtagnano hauing as yet determined vpō nothing of that he had to do both for that the conceptions of the launceknights were diuerse and very hard the enterprises that remained to be attēpted eyther of Padoa or of Treuisa and the forces farre inferior to the difficulties for in the armie there was litle more then a thousande men at armes not many light horsemen and onely ten thousande footemen aswell Spanish as launceknights And lastly there was exspectation of the comming of the Bishop of Gurce vpon whose will direction depended resolutely all things About this time a Spanish magistrate being in Bergamo to gather the impost of xxv thousand duckets taxed vpon that citie at such time as it was rendred to the Viceroy Ranso de Cero sent thither from Cremo one part of the souldiors who entring by night by the helpe of certayne conspirators of the towne tooke the Spaniard with all the money he had leauyed and returned afterwarde to Crema There was discerned about this tyme a preparation to newe troubles in the state of Genes beeing conformable in that plot the wills of the Duke of Millan and the Svvizzers to whom Antho. and Ierome Adorno had recourse They declared to the Duke the affinitie and dependencie which their fathers had had with Lodovvike his father That by the ayde of their famuly he had recouered and many yeres holden in peace the principalitie of Genes from the whiche he had bene fraudulently deuested by the Dukes Fregoso That the famulie of the Adornei had participated with the aduersities and fortunes of the Sforceis for that at the same time that Lodovvike loste the duchie of Millan the Adornei were chased out of Genes And therfore they perswaded that it was conuenient that they should likewise communicate in the returne of good hap fortune seeing the same affection the same faith continued That they ought not to be charged by imputation if being not so muche as harde in any one place but abandoned of all hope their necessitie their goodwill had dryuen them to haue recourse to that king by whom they had bene chased expulsed before That on the other side he was to remember the auncient hatred of the Fregoset and howe many iniuries and practises had bene wrought agaynst his father by Baptista and the Cardinall Fregosa dukes of Genes successiuely and lastly he was to consider how farre he was to trust Octauian Fregosa who besides the auncient hatred he bare refused to haue a superiour in that gouernment To the Svvizzers they recommended the profite the surety the honor that they might reape by thenterprise that if by their meane they were eftsones restored to their countrey they would pay a summe of money equall to that which Octaui Fregosa payed to the Spaniards that as by their vertue the duchy of Millan had bin preserued so to them apperteined in honor the protection defence of the thing they had gotten by their vallor wherin they were to cōsider what a matter it would be contrary to the surety of that state that Genes a citie of so neare neighborhood importance should obey a duke that depended wholly vpon the king of Aragon That it were an action vnworthy their name their glory to suffer Genes the frute of the victory of Nouarro to fall to the share and profite of the Spaniards who whylest the Svvizzers with so great vallour ranne their bodies vpon the thundring shot of the Frenche were with more ease then daunger vpon Trebia watching as it were the issue of the battell to robbe vsurpe by suttletie the rewards of the victorie gotten with the blood of others Vpon these complaints accōpanied with other reasons of cōpassion the duke caused his cōpanies to march the Svvizzers aduanced foure thousand footmen but what with the threates of the Viceroy against the Duke and the authority of the Pope with the Svvizzers the enterprise ceassed euē assone as it was begō thaffectiō that the Pope bare to thaffaires of Octauian doing more to dashe thexpedition then any other thing In this meane while the Viceroy went vp to Battell a place about seuē miles frō Padoa where Caruigial riding vndiscretly with a small strength of horsmen to view the seate of the contrey was taken by Mercario capteine of the Venetian light horsmē About which time the bishop of Gurcy arriuing in the army they drew to cōsultation what was to be done The Bishop gaue coūsel to besiege Padoa saying he hoped so much in the vertue of the Spaniards launceknights against the Italiās that in the end they should be able to ouercome al difficulties he said it was a matter of lesse labor to take Treuisa but the honor rewards of the victory were far differēt for that to win only Treuisa was not of much importāce for the substance of the war but by the taking of Padoa both the townes peces of Caesars obediēce should stand assured frō troubles perils of the warre the Venetians should be lefte depriued of all hope to bee hable to reconquer the places they had loste The Viceroye and almost all the other capteines were of a contrary opinion they iudged it rather impossible then hard to force Padoa for the incredible fortifications it was throwly furnished with artilleries all things necessary for defence it was double manned with souldiors besides many yongmen of the nobilitie of Venice that were come thither as they had wōt to do at other times they alleaged that the circuit of Padoa was large in which regard as also for the multitude of the defendāts other difficulties it required to be enuironed with a siege of two armies a computation so farre from them that they were not hable to make one sufficient the number of their souldiors being not great and yet no signe of readynes in the Launceknightes for that they murmured already for want of pay Lastly they had not sufficient munitions no lesse want of poyeners a prouision very necessary for an enterprise of that difficulty But in the ende the reasons of the Viceroy and the other capteines gaue place to the authoritie and will of the Bishop of Gurce according to whose direction the armie drawing neare to Padoa encamped at Bassanella vpon the right shoare of the
speciall commaundement from the Senate not to feight and lay incamped vpon Brenta with seuen hundred men at armes a thousande light horsemen and seuen thousande footemen And the place beeing strong by situation and desence gaue him great oportunitie to vex thenemies with his light horsemen Neuerthelesse a litle after he retyred to Barsillon almost affore the gates of Padoa to thend to drawe his armie into a place of suretie But the whole countrey beeing turned into spoyle and waste by the pillages that were made by both the Armies the Spaniards hauing great want of vittells retyred to their first lodgings from whence they were come leauing abandoned the citie of Vincensa and the rocke of Brendola which is about seuen myles from it They releeued them selues with no other subsidies or payments then with the taxations which they imposed vpon Verona Bressia Bergama and other places thereaboutes Vpon the retyring of the Spaniards Aluiano bestowed himselfe with th armie betwene Batallo and Padoa the place being strong and proper and there vnderstanding that there was within Este a very small and negligent garrison he sent thither by night foure hundred horsemen and a thousande footemen who being entred afore they were descerned tooke fourescore light horsemen of capteine Coruero who saued himselfe in the Castell and with that pray retyred to th armie But the Venetians hauing sent to th armie freshe bandes of souldiors Aluiano drewe neare to Montagnano and presented the battell to the Viceroy who refused to accept it beeing farre inferior inforces and so retyred to Polesinade Rouigno An oportunitie agreeing to the courage of Aluiano who hauing nowe no more impedimentes beyonde Adice made dayly incursions euen to the gates of Verona the same so touching the Viceroy with the daunger of that Citie that leauing within Polesina three hundred men at armes and a thousande footemen himselfe with the residue of th armie went to the defence of that Citie disposing his forces not sufficiently according to thestate of his perills but aswell as he was hable according to the necessitie of the time Farre greater difficulties began to kindle towards Crema which was almoste besieged by the companies of the duke of Millan bestowed in the townes and villages there abouts for the towne suffred great affliction of famine great stroke of plague great disorder of souldiors for want of pay vniuersall lacke of munitions with other particular prouisions which had bene many times demaunded Aduersities which Ranso distrusting to be hable no longer to susteine had made him almost to protest to the Venetians And yet the same fortune following him with some fauor countenaunce he set vpon Siluio Sauello whose strength was two hundred men at armes an hundred light horsemen and xv hundred footemen and charging him vpon the sodayne he so put him to discomfiture that he fledde to Loda onely with fiftie men at armes seeking safetie rather at aduenture and by chaunce then by confidence in his vallour and prowesse After this the Venetians reuitteled Crema the second time and the Count Nicholas Scot put into it xv hundred footemen In so much as both the forces and courage of Ranso rising increased he entred a fewe dayes after the Citie of Bergamo being called in by the townesmen and the Spaniards fleing to the Chappell At the same time also Mercurio and Malatesta Baillon tooke three hundred horsmen that were stragling without but not long after as Nicholas Scot went from Bergamo to Crema with fiue hundred Italian footmen he was encountred with two hundred Svvizzers who ouerthrewe his companies and tooke him prisoner and ledde him to the duke of Millan who caused his head to be striken of This losse of Bergamo awaked the Viceroy and Prospero Colonno who went and incamped there with fiue thousande footemen ioyned to the regiments of the Spaniards and to the bands of the duke of Millan They planted their artilleries agaynst S Katherins gate whiche though it made valiaunt resistance yet Ranso beeing within and seeing no possibilitie of long defence left the towne to discression compounding to departe with the lyues and goods of all his souldiors but without sounding of trompet and with their ensignes wrapped vp The Viceroy taxed thinhabitantes of Bergamo at iiij score thousande duckets But amidde these actions and seruices at Crema and Bergamo an other exployte of greater worthines and more full of industry and celeritie was executed by Aluiano in the towne of Rouigno wherein was a garrison of two hundred men at armes spanish who thought them selues to stand in suretie for that they had the ryuer of Adice betwene them and the Venetian bandes Aluiano when was least doubt of him cast a bridge neare the towne of Anguillaro and by his industrie and diligence made him a passage ouer the ryuer with a company of souldiers resolute and trayned and no impediment of stuffe or baggage to hinder thenterprise which was to be executed as muche with celeritie as with vallour And as he was arriued at the towne and had possessed the gate by the stratageame of a hundred footemen attyred like paysantes whom he had sent before vnder the cullor and occasion of the market that was kept there that day he easily made him selfe Lorde of the whole and tooke prisoners all the men at armes that he founde there In this enterprise he preuayled as muche by pollicie as by vertue which two properties in a man of warre are equally required and turning neither the one nor the other into rigour nor blood he accompanied his vallour with clemencie and spared the liues of those whom his fortune the course of armes offred to the edge of his sworde By reason of this aduenture the residue of the Spaniardes that were lodged at Polisena retyred into thabbay as to the strongest place in the countrey and afterwards leauing abandoned all Polisena and Leguagua they fledde towards Ferrara carrying with them more feare then hope of safety Immediatly after the taking of Rouigno Aluiano marched with th armie to Oppiano neare to Leguaguo whither he caused to be brought by the ryuer certayne armed barkes and so be went on to Villacero neare to Verona with this resolution that if from that place he should not be hable to take Verona wherein was a strength of two thowsande spanish footemen and a thowsand launceknightes at least he would kepe it in vexacion torment all the winter long But being aduertised that an armie of three hundred men at armes fiue hundred light horsemen and six thowsande footemen of thenemies were gone vp towardes Leguaguo he came out of that place fearing least they would either stoppe his vittels or constraine him to feight he came within the view of them going towards Adice which they passed at Albaretto with no small difficulty of vittells by reason of thimpedimentes which the light horsemen and the armed barkes gaue them And hearing there that the spanish army after the recouery of Bergama returned towards Verona
hopes that had bene giuen and also for an exspectation of eyght thousande footemen to come out of Germanie whiche the Capteines that laye about Bressia had no confidence to be hable to hinder The Venetians to couer someway thignominie of their retrait were contented to agree with the defendauntes of Bressia that if they were not succoured within thirtie dayes they would abandon the Citie and go out of it with their ensignes displayed their artilleries and what else apperteined to them A promise whiche euery one knewe would serue to no purpose for th assurance they had of succours only it was a thing profitable to them of Bressia to be deliuered in the meane whyle from aduersities and afflictions Afterwardes the Venetians put eyght thousand footmen within Bre â–ª a towne subect to the Counts of Lodrono but assone as they heard the launceknights marched to whom the Castell of Auso was rendred they retyred cowardly to th armie The capteins themselues showed no greater resolution corage who fearing to be charged at one time both by those bands the defendantes of Bressia and also by Mark Antho â–ª Colonno with the regiments that were within Verona retired to Gueda whither they had sent afore being assured of that accident their greatest sortes of artillerie and almost all their baggage And the launceknights that entred into Verona without impediment returned into Germanie after they had refurnished it of vittells and reenforced the garrison During these accidents and enterchaunge of affayres the Pope and the French king had agreed vppon an enteruiewe at Bolognia A place which the king accepted affore Florence because he would not be farre remoued from the Duchie of Millan And chiefly for that the Duke of Sauoye managed continually the negociacion of accord betweene him and the Svvyzzers But some thought he made election of that place for that in passing into Tuskane he should be constrayned to leade with him a great trayne of souldiours to th ende he should not enter into Florence with a lesse pompe then did the late king Charles before him for dressing of which pomp it behoued him to spend certeine daies in deferring a matter by so much more grieuous and intollerable to the king by how much besides generall respects it would breede occasion to make him reteyne yet longer the whole armie whereof albeit the exspenses were great yet made he no reckoning nor resolucion to send away any parte of it so long as his person remeyned in Italy Thus the Pope entred into Bolognia the eyght daye of December and after him the king made his entry within two dayes and to receiue him were gone to the confyns of the contry of Reggia the Cardinalls Fiesquâ— and Medicis Legats Apostolyke The king entred without many bandes of souldiers and with no great trayne of Court and Courtyers And beeing conueyed according to the manner of kinges into the publike Consistorie affore the Popes presence he offered in his owne person his great Chauncellor deliuering the speech for him the obedience which till then he had not protested They were lodged three dayes together in one pallace showing one to another right great and manifest tokens of good will and amitie They confirmed at this meeting with wordes and promisses the obligacions and contracts passed affore and debated besides of many thinges touching the Realme of Naples which for that the king was in no readines to assayle at that tyme he contented him selfe with the great hope and assurances which the Pope gaue to fauor him in that enterprise eyther assoone as the king of Aragon should dye who in reasonable iudgement coulde not longe liue or when the confederacion which he had with him should be ended which yet had continuance of sixteene monethes The king also besought the Pope to render to the Duke of Ferrara Modono and Reggia whereunto he condiscended so farre forth as the Duke repaied xl thowsand duckats which he had giuen to Caesar for Modona withall make recompense for such summes of money as he had disbursed in exspenses for both the cities Lastly the king was a sutor for Frauncis Maria Duke of Vrbyn who beeing waged and interteyned by the Church with two hundred men at armes and appoynted with Iuliande Medicis to goe to th armie and afterwards that charge beeing transferred to Lavvrence by reason Iulian was sicke he refused to go thether alleaging he would not accord to Lavvrence that which against his dignitie he had suffered for friendships sake in Iulian to beare the place of a simple Capteine and subiect to thauthoritie of an other and that in the armie of the Church wherein he had ruled so oftentymes as generall and soueraigne Commaunder of all Moreouer he reuoked those souldiours in his paye that were on the way notwithstanding his promisse to sende them on to the seruice he had also secretly compownded or at least was in action of composicion with the french king like as also euer since the kinges victorie he had not ceassed by speciall working to kindle him against the Pope who taking thoceasion of those iniuries and casting by all his deuises to make fall to his house that Duchie refused to the kinge his demaunde reducinge to his remembraunce by sweete wordes of what consequence it woulde be for thaffaires of the Churche to giue boldnesse to his subiectes to rebell by so hurtefull an example These reasons induced the king to conforme him selfe to the Popes will notwithstandinge in regard of his honor he would gladly haue purchassed safetie for him that was falne into daunger for being faithfull to his seruice Wherunto he was perswaded by many of his councell and most of his Courte who vnder the example of the late king proued howe vnwise a councell it was to giue harte and countenaunce to the Duke Valentynois to oppresse the inferior Lordes of Italie a matter that made him rise into that estate of greatnesse that if God had giuen longer life to his father Pope Alexander his ambicion coulde not but haue bene verie preiudiciall to the affayres of Fraunce The Pope promised to giue the king power to leauie the tenth parte of the Churche reuenues of the realme of Fraunce for the arearing of an armie And gaue also his consent that the king should haue the nominacion of benefices which alwayes affore hath apperteyned to colledges and Chapters of Churches a matter that fell out muche to the profitte and purpose of the kings of Fraunce not only hauing by that meane the facultie to dispose at their owne arbitracion and will many riche benefices but also the annates of the frenche Churches shoulde afterwardes be payed to the Pope according to the true vallue and not as the auncient taxacions being farre lesse required Wherein the Pope found him selfe deceiued for when his Deputies and commissaries for the realme of Fraunce sought to proceede against those that conceiled the true vallue they coulde finde no proofe nor testimonie and muche lesse haue
during the whole coursse of his life excepting onely the death of his onely sonne for the accidents of his wiues and his sonne in lawe were the cause that he kept his greatnes vntill his death and the necessitie to depart with Castillo after his wiues death was rather a sport then a blowe of fortune In all other thinges he was right happy for being second sonne to Iohn king of Aragon he came to the crowne by the death of his elder brother he aspyred to the kingdom of Castillo by Issabell his wife he subdued the Competytors of the same kingdome and expulsed them he made a conquest of the Realme of Granado which the ennemies of Christian faith had vsurped almost eight hundred yeares he annexed to his Empire the Realmes of Naples and Nauarre and the principallitie of Orano with many other places of importance vpon the coast of Affriqua he bare alwayes the victorie and vpperhand of his ennemies he almost cloaked his ambicions and couetousnes with an honestzeale to religion and an holy affection to the common weale wherein fortune appeared manifestly conioyned with industrie About a moneth affore his deathe dyed the Great Capteine both absent from the Court and ill contented of the king And yet the king gaue order that in remembrance of his vallour there shoulde bee done to him both in the Court and through the whole partes of the Realme those honors that haue not beene vsed to bee done but at the death of kinges A matter plausiblie accepted and executed by all his subiectes who omitted no forte of reuerence or celebracion to the name of the Great Capteyne making him singuler in liberalitie in councell in discression and for knowledge in warres and martiall science excelling all the Capteines of his time By the death of this king the french king entred into a newe courage to addresse an enterprise against the realme of Naples to the which he was in mind to send forthwith the Duke of Burbon with an armie of eight hundred launces tenne thowsand footemen he seemed to reappose much in thopportunitie of the time for that the kingdome beeing in some tumult vppon the death of the king and ill prepared for defense he perswaded a facilitie of conquest speciallye the Archduke hauing no respitte or tyme to succour it And he doubted nothinge of the Popes fauour bothe for the hopes he had giuen him at the enteruiewe of Bolognia and in regarde of thalliance contracted with him and also in consideracion of his proper interest as though he shoulde bee ielouse of the wonderfull height and greatnes of tharchduke heire present to so many kingdomes by the death of the king Catholike and exspected successor of Caesar he hoped besides that tharchduke would giue him no great impediment knowing howe harmefull might be to him his ill will touching the Realmes of Spayne but specially for the regarde of the kingdome of Aragon wherevnto many of the same famulie had aspired if their power had bene as great as their right for albeit in the life of the late king and Isabell his wife it was interpreted in an open generall Parliament that the ancient constitutions of that kingdome which admit not women to the succession of the Crowne were not preiudiciall agaynst the issue males borne of them when in the lyne masculine was to be founde neither brother vncle nor nephew of the dead king nor any other that was more nearer to him then they that were discended of the womans side or at least in equall degree and that for that reason it was declared that after the death of Ferdinand the succession apperteined to tharchduke Charles wherin was brought for example that after the death of Martin king of Aragon dying without issue males the sentence of the Iudges deputed to that matter through the whole kingdome preferred Ferdinand graundfather to this Ferdinand notwithstanding he came of the womens side affore Count Vrgello and others ioyned to Martin by masculine lyne but in degree and propertie of discending further off then Ferdinand yet the people nourished amongest them selues a secret complaynt and controuersie that in that interpretation and declaration the power of Ferdinand and Isabell had more force then the lawe of iustice and equitie In this did thinterpretation seeme vniust to many that the women beeing excluded suche as discended of them might be admitted and withall that in the sentence giuen to the behoofe of tholde Ferdinand the feare of his armes ruled more then reason These matters beeing layde open to the French king and withall that the peoples of the prouince of Aragon Valence and Earledome of Catelonia all these are comprehended vnder the kingdome of Aragon stoode desirous to enioye a king proper and particular He hoped that tharchduke not to endaunger so great a succession and so many estates would not at laste be straunge or harde to leaue to him that kingdome vnder some reasonable cōposition And for the better preparing of this enterprise because he would insinuate by benefites aswell as preuayle by forces he sought at that time to set at libertie Prospero Colonno vpon whom was imposed a raunsome of xxxv thousande duckettes whereof the king procured him to be pardoned of the one moytie By whiche propertie of fauor the worlde beleeued that Prospero had made secrete promise not to beare armes agaynst him yea happly to ayde him in the warre of Naples albeit with some limitation or reseruing of his honor Albeit the king was occupied with these thoughtes and had now determined to deferre no longer the action of armes and forreine warre yet he was driuen by new accidentes to turne his minde wholly to his owne defence for that Caesar hauing receiued a hundred and twentie thousande duckets according to the former negociation begon with the king of Aragon made preparation to inuade the duchie of Millan after he had once giuen succours to Verona and Bressia for the Venetian armie commaunded by Theoder Triuulco for that the other Triuulco was returned to Millan lying encamped within six myles of Bressia suffred their estradiots to make incursions thorowe the whole contrey And one daye beeing charged by those that were within the towne and either partie ronning to the reskew and succour of their friendes they repulsed them and draue them beaten into Bressta hauing long fought for the victorie in which conflict they slue many and tooke prisoner the gouernors brother of the Citie Not many dayes after Monsr de Lavvtrech generall of the French armie and Theodore Triuulco hauing espiall that a strength of three thousand Launceknightes came to Bressia to conduct the money sent for the paye of the souldiors sent out to hinder their passage at the Castell of Aufo Ianus Fregoso and Iohn Conrado Vrsin with certayne bandes of both the armies they put the launceknights to flight and made slaughter of eight hundred of them the residue carying awaye the money founde safety by flying to Lodrono Afterwardes the Venetians sent a
regiment of two thousande fiue hundred footemen into Sandualley to fortifie the castell of Aufo who brunt Lodrono and Astoro Thus were they in Bressia maruelously trauelled whose aduersities and straitnes bearing suspicion least they would giue vp compelled Caesar to aduaunce and marche he tooke his way by Trent to Verona hauing in his army fiue thousande horsemen fifteene thousande Svvizzers sent to him by the fiue Cantons and ten thousande footemen aswell Spanish as launceknightes By reason of which marching comming on both in a maner in a number and by a way contrarie to exspectation the Frenche armie and the Venetians leauing sufficient garrisons within Vincensa and Padoa went to Pesquiero carying a minde to stoppe Caesars passage at the ryuer of Mince But as it often happneth in matters of enterprise the execution did nothing answere the counsell for that when they sawe thenemies approache and come on they wanted the courage to performe in the fielde the thing which they had so brauely promised vnder counsell in their pauillions but hauing passed Oglia they retyred to Cremona omitting thoportunitie with the losse of reputation which in the enemie encreased together with a newe courage and resolution But Caesar eyther caried by an vndiscret counsell or pushed on by an euill fortune encamped before Asolo which was garded by a hundred men at armes and foure hundred footmen of the Venetians there he consumed vnprofitably many dayes wherein it was thought that the respite whiche he gaue to thenemies in that delay tooke from him thoportunitie of the victorie Assone as he brake vp from before Asolo he passed the ryuer of Oglio at Orcinouo and thenemies leauing in Cremona three hundred launces and three thousand footmen retyred on the other side the ryuer of Addo with intention to stoppe his passage By whose retyring leauing the peeces there abandoned all the countrey betwene Oglio Pavv and Addo was at the deuotion of Caesar except Cremona Crema wherof the one was garded by the French the other kept by the Venetians The Cardinall of Syon with many of the banished people of the duchie of Millan folowed Caesar together with Mark. Antho. Colonno who marched with two hundred men at armes of the Popes pay A matter which gaue so muche the more feare to the Frenchmen by howe muche their greatest hopes were reduced thither if ten thousande Svvizzers who had bene payed for ten monethes made any more tarying to marche After Caesar had passed the ryuer of Oglio he drewe neare to the ryuer of Addo to make his passage at Pisquetono but finding many difficulties to passe in that place he came to Riuolco the Frenchmen lying at Casciano on the other side the ryuer who for that the Svvizzers were not come and that the ryuer of Addo had many foardes that yeelded facilitie of passage retyred the daye after to Millan not without matter of infamie to Monsr Lavvtrech who had written to the king that he would stoppe Caesars passage at that ryuer But Caesar finding no impediment to resiste his passage there ioyned diligence to his fortune and finding mens mindes inclined to his victorie he had the Citie of Loda rendred to him forthwith And being within a fewe myles of Millan he sent an Herald to sommon the towne threatning thinhabitants that if within three dayes they expulsed not the Frenche armie he woulde deale worse with them then did Federike Barberosso his predecessor who not satisfied to waste and burne Millan caused salte to be sowed and strawed about in memorie of his anger and their rebellion The French men that in great feare were retyred to Millan fell amongest themselues into great debates and diuersitie of councells some were of opinion to abandon Millan both for that in them selues was no possibilitie of resistaunce agaynst so mightie enemies and withall they had no great confidence in the comming of the Svvizzers notwithstanding they knewe they were already vpon the way Besides they had aduertisement that the Cantons eyther had already ordred or were at poynt to commaunde that the souldiors of the Svvizzers shoulde depart from the seruice of both the one the other which direction it was thought credible likely that those bands that were vpon the way would be more ready to obey then they that were in the seruice of thenemie Others gaue aduise not to leaue the seruice esteeming it too great infamie to leaue forsaken in perill and aduersitie those friends that had reapposed and layde vp in them the whole confidence of their safetie and protection They alleaged a better hope in the reskew of the Svvizzers and their owne habilitie to defende Millan giuing a resolute counsell to sticke to the defence of the towne and for their better furetie they willed to keepe reteyned in Millan all the footemen and eight hundred launces making distribution of the others together with the Venetians and the light horsemen into places adioyning to keepe and cutte off vittells from thenemies The varietie of opinions was no small impediment to the present seruice their daunger and necessitie being more importunat then their councells resolute or their confidence assured Neuerthelesse the firste councell had bene followed had it not bene for the contrarie working and perswasion of Andrevv Gritti and Andrevv Treuisan Venetian commissioners who obteined by their authoritie for otherwise they could winne nothing that a cowardly haste should not carry them further then the reputation of vallour and counsell apperteining to men of warre and seruice In the action of which perswasions newes came that the day following Alberto Peter would be in Millan with ten thousande Svvizzers and Grisons A matter that breathed newe minds and courages in them and yet hauing no confidence to be hable to defende the suburbes they burnt them by the counsell of the Venetian commissioners who aduised them to that violence eyther for that they supposed it necessarie to the sauetie of the towne or else vnder that occasion they sought to satisfie the auncient hatred remaining of long time betwene them of Millan and Venice They both expulsed out of the Citie and also reteined vnder good garde many of the chieftaynes of the Gebelin faction as inclined to the name of thempire by the care and labour of those houses and for that there were in the armie many of the same parcialitie In this meane while Caesar encamped with his armie at Lambra two myles from Millan where he had no sooner setled his campe to the terror of the towne then thexspected supply of Svvizzers entred for the defence of it Besides the sodennes of their comming which in cases of reskew is of no small importance their readines and disposition to feight amazed not a litle euen those that affore seemed to stande in assuraunce of the victorie They gaue a newe life to the discouraged mindes of the French men and no lesse feare terror to Caesar who looking into thauncient hatred of that nation to the house of Austrich and
those that were besieged that in the Citie so many monthes afflicted by thennemies that kepte it alwayes straytely enuironed the stoare of vittells beganne to diminishe and no hope to be resupplyed but in very small quantitie and that by stealth vsing the pathes of the mountaynes for the commoditie of that poore releefe But as the affaires of Verona stoode in these tearmes there came to the reskew of that Citie a regiment of nine thowsand launceknightes sent by Caesar who ariuing at Chiusa tooke it by composition and made them selues Lords of the castell of Coruaro which is a peece standing vpon the next hill to Adice drawing towards Trenta and cōmaunded many times by both the parties in the warre betwene Caesar the Venetians Monsr Lavvtrech either fearing in deede or dissembling to be amazed at the new supply of launceknights leauied his campe against the mindes of the Venetians and retyred his armie to Villefranche carying with him one parte of the Venetian regiments and the other parte vnder Iohn Pavvle Manfron withdrew to Boseto beyond the riuer of Adice by a bridge prepared for their passage Insomuch as the Venetians hauing nowe no further confidence to carie Verona sent all their great artilleries to Bressa And the launceknights without any impediment incamped at Tomba where the french army was lodged affore one part of them entring into the City the other parte remeyning without which returned after Verona was reuitteled There remeyned for the gard of Verona a strength of seuen or eight thowsand launceknights for that the most parte of the spanishe bandes that could holde no agreement with them were passed to the Venetian campe vnder Cronell Maldonato And in common iudgement that reskew or succours was of small momēt for that they brought not with them other stoare of money then xx thowsand Florins of the Rhein which the king of England had sent during the time of their tarying there they cōsumed so much vittells that it was almost equall to that quantitie which they had brought with them By reason of those bands that were retired to Villefranche from whence they committed manifest hauoke and spoyle vpon the partes of Verona and Mantua the Venetians were compelled least the frenchemen whome no commaundement that was made to them on the kings behalfe could make to stay should departe to their garrisons to take order that the Citie of Bressa should wholly furnish them of necessary vittells an exspence rising to aboue a thowsand crownes a day At last things beganne to incline manifestly to peace for that it was knowen that Caesar notwithstanding his former solicitacion to his sonne in law not to compound with the frenche king preferring the couetousnes of money affore the hate he bare naturally to the french also affore his auncient ambicion to make him selfe Lord of Italie had not only accepted and ratified the peace but also determined to render Verona according to the forme of those conuencions from this succeeded an other matter to the benefit of the frenche king that all the Cantons of Svvizzers seeing armes hostilitie deposed betwene Caesar the king were contented to compound with him as the Grisons had done before in which action Galeas Visconte did what he could who being banished and a rebell protested by the king wonne of him by this meane libertie to returne into his countrey restitucion to all his goods and recompense of many graces and honors The composicion was that the king should pay to the Svvizzers within three monethes an hundred fifty thowsand duckats and from thence forwarde an indument of perpetuall yearely pensions That the Svvizzers should be bounde to deliuer to his pay by publike decree so often as he should demaund a certaine number of footemen wherin notwithstanding the proceeding was diuerse for that the eight Cantons were bounde to furnishe that proporcion whensoeuer he should enter into any enterprise to offende the estates of an other and to the fiue Cantons the couenant bare no other obligacion then for the defence of his proper estates That it shoulde be in the power of the Svvizzers to render to the french king the castells of Lugan and Lugarno which bee passages of great strength and of no lesse importance for the sewertie of the Duchie of Myllan And in case they would make restitucion the king to paye to them three hundred thowsand duckats But they rased them to the ground immediatly vpon the making of the composicion This was the discourse of thinges in Italy in the yeare a thowsand fiue hundred and sixteene But in the beginning of the yeare following the Bishop of Trente who was come to Verona made offer to Monsr Lavvtrech to deliuer vp that citie to the french king within six moneths according to the contents of the capitulacion seeing he held it in the name of the king of Spaine But there remeyned this difficultie whether the tearme should begin from the day of the ratificacion of Caesar or from the time it was acknowledged that Verona was holden by the king catholike And vpon this albeit there passed a disputacion for certeine dayes yet for that the garrison of footemen that were within Verona drewe to mutinies vpon the demaund of money the Bishop of Trente was constrained to followe those affayres with a greater haste And therefore taking the beginning from the day that he had receiued commission from Caesar he agreed to deliuer vp Verona the fifteene daye of Ianuary At which daye he passed the assignement to Monsr de Lavvtrech who receiued it in the name of the french king the said Bishop receiuing of the Venetians the first fifty thowsand duckats together with the fifteene thowsand which by the capitulacion they were bound to pay to the garrison in Verona and also assured fidelitie and promisse of Monsr de Lavvtrech to see drawne to Trente the artilleries that were within Verona Monsr Lavvtrech at the same instant redeliuered the citie ouer in his kinges name to the Senat of Venice Andrevv Gritty standing then as Deputie and assigney to that state great was the gladnes of the nobilitie and whole communaltie of Venice for that after so long and daungerous a warre drawing with it so many calamities and exspenses they had reclaymed to the general body of their dominion so principal a member esteeming the reward of the warre farre aboue the burden and charges of the same although by the reapport of such as haue written of their doinges they consumed during all the warres they made since the league of Cambray fiue myllions of duckats whereof they leauyed fiue hundred thowsand of the sale of offices lastly the inhabitants of Verona reioysed no lesse then the residue together with all other cities and iurisdictions subiect to their common weale hoping now to be deliuered and dispensed withall from so many afflictions which so long a warre had throwen vpon them sometymes by the one armie and sometymes by the other The ende of the tvvelfth Booke
for the interest of his proper dignitie he remembred the secrete negociations interteyned agaynst him with other Princes and with the Svvizzers he was not ignoraunt that a litle before pushed on by a desire directly to hinder the recouery of Verona he had suffred the regimentes of Spanishe footemen comming from Naples to the reskew of it to passe in seuerall trowpes through the dominions of the Churche excusing himselfe that he would not giue them occasion to passe in one ioynt strength beeing in that case not hable to stoppe them Lastely he founde in his conscience that he had not performed his promises touching the donation of the tenthes but vnder conditions suttle and intangled nor had obserued the rendring of the townes to the Duke of Ferrara abusing the kings exspectation and his owne fidelitie These were right iust causes to make him doubt of the kings will whereof also his suspicions made him seeme to see certayne tokens for that this conspiracie and leauie of men being bred in the partes of Verona it could not be that Monsr de Lavvtrech coulde be without knowledge of it many dayes before and seeing he was secret and silent in it it was a manyfest presumption of his priuitie and consent To this also was added a ielousie of Federike Bossolo hauing till then followed the paye of the king and it was doubtful whether that was true that Monsr de Lavvtrech alleaged for his excuse that the time of his enterteinment was finished Moreouer the Pope stoode doubtfull of thinclination of the Venetians hauing an opinion that their Cōmissioners had made them selues parties to this vnion for that the Senate stoode verye muche discontented with him aswell in regarde of things paste as for iclousie of his present greatnes which was suche that being successor of so great a power and reputation of a Popedome he disposed absolutely at his deuotion the whole estate of the Florentins These considerations brought no small amaze to the Pope to whom also was no lesse reason of exspectation or hope in the confidence or alliance with other Princes for that besides that they were of newe reconciled and confedered with the French king not one of them helde for acceptable his maner of proceeding with secrete councells and suttleties wherein albeit he dissembled sometimes to incline on their side yet what betweene the detections that burst out agaynst him the slow execution of his intentions and promises he gaue little or none satisfaction to any of them yea disclosing oftentimes a manyfest doubt agaynst them all he had dispatched a little before to the king Catholike Freare Nicholao an Almain and secretorie to the Cardinall Medicis to drawe him from thenteruiew and parley whiche was solicited with the French king fearing a contract of greater alliance betweene them to his preiudice Thus the Pope waued indifferently betwene doubt dread betwene feare and suspicion exspecting all things to happen to him which his tymerous conscience did suggest or fashion the same being a passion that oftentymes tormentes the myndes of yll men agaynst whom Salomon pronounceth this vexation that what so euer their guyltie mindes do feare in yll the same shall assuredly happen vnto them Neuerthelesse amidde these confusions and suspensions of minde he and his nephew Lavvrence ceassed not to sende bandes of souldiors into Romagnia suche as for the most parte were leauyed of newe and the residue drawne out of the squadrons of the Florentins pensioners his reason was in sending out of this force that ioyning with Ranso de Cero and Vitelli who laye at Rauenna with the regimentes of men at armes they might giue impediment to the passage of thenemies But this expedition was in vayne and theffect thereof for that th armie of thenemie hauing already passed the ryuer of Pavv at Ostia and preuenting with their celeritie the preparations of their aduersaries were by that time entred vpon the landes of the duke of Ferrara taking the waye to Cento and Burio and marching thorowe the countrey of Bolognia In this iourney they sacked Granarola which is borowe vpon the territories of Fauentia and from thence they drewe neare to Faenza to proue if they could conspire any mutation there by the helpe of a young gentleman of the familie of Mansroy who was in that armie But the inhabitauntes of Faenza disauowing al mutinies the armie passed further not trying to get any other of the townes of Romagnia for that they were all strong in garrison eyther of men at armes or of footemen and for the better suretie of Rimini Ranso Vitellt were gone thither by sea Lavvrence came to Cesena to assemble his companies there and at Rimini but for that thenemies were already passed he ceassed not in the meane while to leauie souldiors in many places whereof there flocked to him both more then he needed and more then he required for a regiment of two thousande fiue hundred launceknights that were dismissed by Monsr de Lavvtrech to returne into their houses and likewise certaine colonels of iij. thousand Gascons were reteyned by Iohn Poppy secretory to Lavvrence wherin he vsed his owne authoritie being perswaded that that army of footemen would folowe Francisco Maria if they were not waged by others or happly he beleeued lightly that with these forces there might be opened an easie waye to the victorie In this action he imployed also thauthoritie of Monsr Lavvtrech with whom he had remayned many monethes to perswade the Capteines whom with their seuerall bandes and regimentes he conuerted immediatly towardes Bolognia But his diligence brought foorth an effect contrarie to his exspectation and the merite of his trauell since the Pope and Lavvrence were discontented with that maner of doing suspecting the kings indignation and yet they could not refuse them for feare least they would ioyne to thenemie being marched so farre with mindes and promises to be imployed In the meane while Francisco Maria aduaunced more and more accompanying his fortune with that diligence and celeritie which leades men of action to the successe and felicitie of thenterprises they followe he was no sooner entred into the Duchie of Vrbin then he was receyued in euery place with great ioye and gladnesse he founde no souldiors in the townes for that Lavvrence hauing no leysure to refurnishe so many places had onely care to defende the Citie of Vrbin the sanctuarie and capitall place of that Duchie And for that cause was sent thither by the counsell of Vitelly a strength of two thousande footemen from Citta di Castello and in place of Vitelly that refused to go to that seruice that charge was committed to Iacques Rossetto of Citta di Castello who notwithstanding he was aduised by reason the people of Vrbin were holden suspected to chase out of the towne all suche bodies as were vnhable to beare armes yet he forbare to execute any suche violence thinking he should better assure himselfe by clemencie then by crueltie But Francisco Maria not conuerting his time
in a cōdition inferior to the others what for the respect of his age and authoritie which tyme had made reuerent in him and lastely what for the lawe of friendship which had indifferently ronne betwene them affore his ascending to the Popedome he proceeded with him with more clemencie and fauor In so muche as like as for thauthoritie and reputation of iustice he was by sentence depriued of the Cardinalls dignitie so he was immediatly by grace bought with a great summe of money restored to his former condition in all things sauing in the authoritie and priuileage of his voyce actiue and passiue which grace neuerthelesse within the reuolution of a yeare was fully restored to him agayne There was no other vexation imposed vpon Adrian and Volterra sauing a secret exaction of great summes of money But seeing there was no surety to eyther of them to abyde in Rome with conuenient dignity Volterra with the Popes licence went to Fondy where vnder the wings of Prosper Colonno he remayned tyll the Popes death And Adrian departed secretly out of Rome but what desteny fell vpon him it is hard to reapport seeing there are none that euer coulde giue any informacion of him since his going away The bitternes of this accident drewe the Pope to consider for the creacion of newe Cardinalls knowing that the whole presence of the colledge astonished by this punishment and gelous of other occasions were of mindes muche estraunged from him In which action he proceded so immoderatly that in one morning in the consistorie the colledge consenting more for feare then of will he pronounced one and thirtie Cardinalls and in that abundance plentie of numbers as he had good meane to satisfie many ends and to make his election of euery quality of men so he preferred two sonnes of his sister with some others who sauing for the seruices they had done him and had bene acceptable to the Cardinall Medicis by many offices were in other reasons neither capable nor worthie so high dignities In the calling of some he obserued the humors of great Princes creating them at their instance some he raised by simonie and corruption of money to relieue his treasor being much consumed some he called were verie famous by thopinion and credit of their learning amongest whome were three Generalls that appellacion is of the highest degree of the order of S. Augustin S. Dominik S. Frauncis And in this creation he left this most rare tradicion that to one function in one promocion and at one time he preferred two of the familie of Triunlco taking his inducement for the one to recompence his seruice for that he had bene his chamberlaine also vpon a desire to satisfie Iohn Iacques and touching the other he was caried with the same of his learning accompanied with some quantitie of money But that which bred matter of greatest admiracion was the election of Francisco Vrsin and Pompey Colonno with other fiue Romains of the principall houses such as were followers of all factions with councells altogether contrary to the resolucion of his predecessor Neuerthelesse it was reputed an action not the least discreete and yet it drewe no great happines in the end to his frendes and kindred for whereas the greatnes of the Barons of Rome being alwaies the suppression and vexacion of the Popes and where in default of the auncient Cardinalls of those families whome Alexander the sixt had bitterly persecuted to make a pray of their goodes Iulio would neuer suffer that dignity to be reinuested in any of them Leo with great immoderacion did the contrarie not that it could be sayd he was drawne with the merit of the men for that as Francisco was taken from the profession of armes and created Cardinall so for Pompey the memorie of his doings past ought to be obiected against his preferrement for that though he was a Bishop yet vsing thoccasion of Pope Iulioes sickenesse he had labored to seduce to tumult the people of Rome against the gouernment of Priests for which cause Pope Iulio depriued him iustly of the dignity of Bishop But in this time Franciscomaria albeit by the retyring or rather manifest flying of thenemies could haue no meane to fight his army being made mightie in men and vallour by the continuall resort of newe souldiers running after the fame of the Capteyne partely caried with hope of praye entred into Marca where Fabriano and many other townes compounded with him redeeming with ready money the perill of sacking and robbing their houses But others standing destitute of that humanitie he committed to the mercie of the souldiers amongst the which the citie ranne a hard fortune since during the parley and negociacion of accord it was entred and spoyled in the vnbridled insolency of the souldiers he drew from thence to Ancona for the defending of the which the Legat had sent a crewe of souldiers he remeyned about it many dayes to the great hinderaunce of his affaires by the losse of time which he suffered not in fighting with the desendants of the place but in temporising to compownd with them At last because they would not with the harmes of the warre suffer also the losse of their haruest they made him a raunsome of eyght thowsand duckats not swaruing in other sort from their accustomed fidelitie to the Church afterwards he inuaded the citie of Osim with very ill successe And at last he planted his campe affore the towne of Corinaldo wherein were two hundred footemen forreyners by whom together with the vallour of the townesmen it was so valiantly defended that after he had consumed xxij daies about it he leauied his seege his despaire being greater then his hope to cary it This did greatly diminish the terror feare that was had of that armie the rather for that he had not made conquest of any those townes that refused to compownd with him A matter which no way could proceede of the vnskilfulnes of the Capteine to dispose nor of want of vallour in the souldiours to execute but the true reason was for that they had but very few and those very small field peeces lacking withall many thinges to put them to seruice Besides touching those townes which would not yeeld to him it was necessary they should make demonstracion of their constancy and vallour for that the Capteines of the Church armie amongest whom Count Potenza was chiefe had sent trowpes of their men of warre to bridle and make pillage of the contry euen to the walls of Vrbyn And Sise being returned from Citta de Castello in Romagnia and afterwards entred into Montfeltro and had subdued by force Secchiano with certeine other small townes was reduced to remeyne incamped within fiue myles of Pezero with intencion not to minister succors to any place nor once to stirre onlesse necessitie moued them to retyre For where in the tymes when they were superior in forces and strength their affayres had falne out so vnhappely now
into order Neither had the feare continued that was begonne at Parma and at Millan by the first rumors that came that Escud was holden prisoner and the men at armes broken notwithstanding it had bene knowen that the bandes of men at armes had bene hoale for that neither was there neare at hande any armie or force to make any stirre and withall many other Capteines of men at armes were there remeining But assoone as Monsr d'Escud had reassembled his companies of horsemen and footemen he retyred to Coriagne a village in the countrey of Reggia not six myles from the city from thence within certeine dayes after he withdrewe to the confines of Parma on thother side the riuer of Leâ—zo and sent la Motte to the Pope to tell him what moued him to goe to Reggia and withall to solicite him in vertue of the capitulacions which were betwene the french king and him to expulse out of the dominions of the church such as were holden rebells against the king About this time there happened at Millan a matter of no lesse wonder then feare which brought to the frenchemen no small astonishment as if the heauens by manifest signes had giuen them a forewarning of their calamities to come For vpon the day that is solemnly consecrated to the memory of the death of the Prince of Apostles the sunne being sette and the aire and firmament cleare there fell downe from the vppermost regions as it were a fire and light affore the gate of the castell whether were brought many barrells of gunpowder drawne out of the castell to be sent to certeine places of seruice This flashe or fierie lightninge embrased by and by the powder with a horrible noyse and by the violence of it the faire tower of marble builded ouer the gate and bearing vppon his toppe a goodly clocke was cast downe and rased from the toppe to the fundacion In which furie did communicate also the walls and chambers of the castell with other buildinges adioyning the tower Yea in one instant all the whole bodie of the castell together with the vniuersall Citie of Millan trembled and shaked with the furie of so raging a tempest which blewe into the aire from sundrie places many huge and greate stones falling to the hurte of many persons And as in a generall calamitie euerie one hath his fortune so there were many that being happie to escape the fall of the huge stoanes were made wretched by the ruines of the walles vnder the which they were smoothered and rammed to death with which ruines the castell greene was so spredde and couered that it was a terror to beholde suche an alteracion but specially it brought astonishment euen to the most assured to see the stones of incredible greatnesse which the furie of the tempest had cast more then fiue hundred pases from the place It happened in the verie hower wherein the people of all sortes were gone for their recreacion to take the ayre vppon the greene by which occasion were slaine more then fiue hundred footemen of the castell and the Capteine of the rocke and the castell together with others of principall place so amazed and desperat both in corage and councell that if the people would haue taken the benefit of that accident and falne to armes they might without difficultie that night haue occupied the castell specially so great a quantitie of the wall being reuersed After the Pope was aduertised howe Monsr d'Eseum was come euen to the gates of Reggia he serued his turne of that enterprise and enforced it to the iustificacion of his owne actions he complained greatly of that doing in the consistorie of Cardinalls where conceiling the confederacion made secretly affore with Caesar and also the direction that both their gallies shoulde be armed to the assailing of Genes he declared that since Monsr d'Escum had attempted to take Reggia it was to be supposed that the french king bare no good minde to the sea Apostolike he concluded that for the defense of the Church and the rights of the same he was constrained to ioyne with Caesar in whom had neuer bene discerned any action that was not worthie a Christian Prince and the same expressed as well in his other operacions as in his late zeale which he published at VVormes touching the protection of religion Therefore he made semblance and showe to contract then with Don Iohn Emanuell Caesars Embassador the confederacion which had bene concluded affore and for that matter he caused to be sent for to Rome Prospero Colonno vppon whom was determined the charge of the enterprise and with whome they consulted in what manner and with what forces they should enter into open warre seeing they had found no successe in ambushes and assaultes suddeine like as in deede the treatie of Coma did no more happely succeede then thenterprise of Genes for as Manfroy Paluoysin M. de Brinzi were by night drawne neare the walls of Coma with eight hundred footemen as well Italians as launceknights hoping that Anthonie de Rusquo a citizen there would breake downe so much of the wall next ioyning to his house as they should haue meane to enter where for the slender strength of frenchmen that were there they supposed would be offered no resistaunce And after they had exspected some good space of time the gouernor of the place assembling together all the frenchmen with certeine of the townesmen whose fidelity he held most assured yet their numbers were lesse then they that were without gaue the charge vpon them with a violence and suddeines so terrible that they brake and fell easely into flight not without suspicion that he had corrupted the Almaine Capteynes both with money and greater promises In the chasse three barkes were sunke vpon the lake seuen taken Many of the generall souldiers fell into the fortune of prisoners and amongest the chieftaines were taken Matto and Manfroy as they fled by the way of the mounteines The launceknights were suffred to goe away freely and the residue were led to Millan where Manfroy and Matto were publikely quartered They confessed in their execucion that Bartl Ferrery of Millan a man of place and authoritie was consenting to the practises of Moron vpon which accusation he was imprisoned together with his sonne so committed to the same punishment for that he had not reuealed that Moron had induced him by secret messages to practise innouations and to raise enterprises against the king About this time the Pope knowing of what oportunity was thestate of Mantua for the warres of Lombardy tooke to his paye Federike Marquis of Mantua with two hundred men at armes and two hundred light horsemen and indued him with the title of Capteine generall of the Churche But before he possessed him selfe of thinterteinment of the Pope herenounced the order of S. Michaell and returned the coller and enseigne that the king had giuen him to him who first receiued him into that order This
of that Citie for that Prospero maynteining to thu 〈…〉 moste the contrarie opinion would neuer consent that souldiours shoulde bee drawne out of the armie to be sent to Modona his reason was that eyther he reapposed assured fayth in the promises of the Duke who was his right deare friend and with whom euen vnder the Popes directions he was interposed to solicite some accord or else for that he had no will to diminishe the number of his men of warre in a tyme when they feared thennemie would approche One principall reason mighte be also taken of hys naturall disposicion alwayes inclined to do things surely which made him for the most part to desire to haue in his armie more men then the seruice needed It may be he had other ends and consideracions more secret and priuate to him selfe then to be knowen of others by any coniecture or apparance Onely assone as the aduertisementes were throughly disclosed and vnderstanded the Capteines assembled in counsayle vpon those affayres determined that Guido Rangon should presently departe for Modona with two hundred light horsemen and eight hundred footmen which being ioyned to the six hundred footmen that were left there before they thought would be a sufficient strength garrison agaynst the forces of Alphonso After they had set downe this order and resolucion there remayned yet certayne howres affore it was day A little before also there came aduertisement that Monsr Lavvtrech was incamped the night before vppon Tare which aduertisement was partly true and partly doutfull for that it conteined that the Svvizzers were ioyned with him and it was not knowne that those which he had then in th armie notwithstanding his infinite requestes had made him no further promise then to come to Taro The Capteines though they were not assembled for that matter yet seeing there yet remayned certayne howres of the night and by that occasion they had no necessitie to employe themselues seuerally in other affayres they beganne to reason amongst them selues rather to beguyle the tyme then by waye of counsell into what estate things would be reduced nowe that Lavvtrech did approche In which discoursing it seemed the wordes and reasons of Prospero the Marquis and Vitelli tended to this end That it would be harde to take Parma if they planted not a battrie on the other side the Citie for that though the wall beyonde the water should be executed which they had begon to batter the daye before yet there woulde be a wonderfull difficultie to climbe vp from the bottome or lower part of the ryuer to the banke Neither could they put that matter in practise without great daunger for that thartilleries and shotts bestowed vpon the three bridges standing vpon the same ryuer and in the howses there adioyning woulde be as flankers to the perill of suche as offred to clymbe the banke They reasoned that the neighborhood of Monsr Lavvtrech who was to marche on and incampe in some place towards Pavv though he would not attempt the fortune of the fielde would be the cause that thassalt could not be giuen without great daunger Moreouer it was to be considered that by reason of the pillage and sacke which had bene lately made of part of Parma there were many footemen gone away laden with spoyle and the other that remayned were more carefull to saue the things they had gotten then disposed or apt to feight That the armie could not remayne there without many difficulties discommodities dangers for that as it should be necessarie for the seruice to sende out euery daye great trowpes and bandes not onely to defende the forragers but also for the suretie of vittels and money which came dayly making a long circuit about the walles of Parma So whylest suche trowpes shoulde occupie the fieldes it might come to passe that the residue of the campe should haue to do at one tyme with the Frenche men that were without and such also as were within They brought into discourse also that if the Duke of Ferrara reenforced his armie with moe bands of souldiors they should be driuen of necessitie to leauie from the campe farre greater forces for the suretie of Modona and Reggia yea if he ouerrunne the countrey with suche bandes as he had he might so hinder the resorte of vittelles that they shoulde be dryuen to breake vp and dissolue the campe extremities which brought with them manyfest apparances of moste great daungers These reasons albeit they expressed an inclinacion to leauye the siege yet they were so cloaked and dissembled that it coulde not be discerned that suche was their counsayle and intencion At laste after they had occupied many reasons and long discourses the Marquis of Pisquaire seeming to haue already comprehended thintention of the residue sayde that he discerned well ynough that there was amongest them all one opinion and counsell but euery one seuerally respecting his particular was content to vse silence expecting that the mouth of an other should be the author of the thing which they conceiued in their hartes But for my part sayd he depriuing my selfe of suche interest and respect I can not but pronounce in the presence of you all that as whylest we remayne about the confines of Parma our daungers are greater then our hopes our labors more then the fruites we shall reape so to auoyde greater euilles I thinke it very necessarie we leauye and departe Prospero iustifying the wordes of the Marquis alleaged that he had expressed no lesse had not the celeritie of the Marquis preuented his slownes to speake Vitelli confirmed thopinion of them both but Antho. de Leua well allowing of the breaking vp of the campe from thence made this proposition to consider whether it were not better to go seeke Monsr Lavvtrech and to giue the charge vpon him Wherevnto it was aunswered that as it would be very harde to constrayne the enemie to sight so also to remayne there would be a matter so much the more impossible by howmuche the difficulties that were to be brought into cōsideracion about their abyding there would ryse farre greater seeing it was not vnlikely to come to passe that the regiment of two thousande Svvizzers would not followe them Both for that many dayes before they had receiued cōmaundement from the Cantons to depart out of the Popes pay and also it was not likely that they would be drawne or disposed to feight agaynst an armie wherein were so many bodies of the same language and nation Moreouer it could not be denied but that by reason of the sacke and pillage made the daye before it would be very hard to moue the footemen that were so disordered So that this counsayle and the reasons of it beeing reiected it seemed that the opinions and willes of all the Capteines drew to this that it were best to breake vp the campe from before Parma Vpon which resolucion no lesse settled then vniuersall Prospero and the Marquis withdrawing them selues a parte from the
of Mantua confessing with one voyce that they were deliuered from a great daunger partely by the benefite of fortune and partly by the negligence and indiscression of thennemies for if they had not stayed at Rebecca the very same day that they were appoynted to goe to Boydellano there had remayned to them a very small hope of safetie for that the selfe same or else greater necessities had constrayned them to retyre by whiche aduersitie the retraite beeing longer and thennemies more neare the perill was moste manifest In like sorte it is moste certayne that the victorie had vndoubtedly falne vppon Monsr de Lavvtrech if he had marched to incampe neare thennemies the same daye he sent the artilleries to Pontvvike wherevnto he was aduised by many of the Capteines but chiefly by the Svvizzers for by reason of his nearenesse they had stande depriued of all meanes to retyre in safetie bothe for that they coulde not raunge them selues into battell araye for thinpedimentes of thartilleries of Pontvvike and also the rage of the famine woulde not giue them suffrance in that place aboue three or foure dayes But suche are the ordinarie fruites of singularitie and selfe weening that whylest by his nature and custome he despised the counsayles of all others he layde open to thennemies the knowledge of the perill that was towardes them and through his fault made them hable to preuent his threatninges by their suddayne departure In so muche as it was not without reason that the Svvizzer Capteines tolde him that they had well deserued the payes accustomed to be giuen to souldiors that had wonne the battell seeing it was not long of them that they had not gotte the victorie At Gabbionetta the army of the League fortified their campe with great industrie and in their owne safetie remayned there manye dayes Neuerthelesse bothe for that the comming of the Svvizzers seemed dayly to linger and suspende and also for feare of the neighborhood of the French both mightie in strength and braue in demonstracions to sette vpon them they passed the ryuer of Oglia and went to incampe in the borowe of Ostiano apperteining to Lodovvike de Bossolo with intention not to departe from thence till the Svvizzers were come which resolucion made with wisedome and counsell was also accompanied with good fortune for that at Gabbionetta by reason of the lowe and shalowe situacion the army had receiued great domages by the abundance of raynes and waters falling assone as the campe was gone But whylest in this sort the tyme ranne foorth ydely betweene both the armies the one lying at Ostiano and the other at Rebecca The Bishoppe of Pistoia and Vitelli hauing drawne into one strength the Svvizzers and the bandes of Italian footemen gaue charge vppon the garrisons of the Duke of Ferrara that laye at Finalo who albeit had for their aduauntage the oportunitie of the place bothe strong by nature and well fortified by arte yet the Svvizzers whose feare is alwayes least when the perill seemes moste presented themselues with a braue resolucion to the daunger and giuing an ouerthrowe to the whole they slewe manye of them amongest whome the knight Coriano passed by the sworde as he was feighting This brought so greate feare and amaze to the Duke of Ferrara lying then at Bodena that yeelding to thaduersitie which he could not ouercome he abandoned foorth with that towne and fled to Ferrara his feares beeing greater then his assurance And to take from the ennemies all oportunities to followe him he retyred with a present diligence all those barkes vppon the whiche he had buylded a bridge in the same place In this meane whyle the regimentes of Svvizzers that were exspected were discended vppon the territories of Bergama and yet their mindes beeing no lesse variable then their difficulties certayne they stayed to passe further hauing expresly refused to turne them selues to inuade the Duchie of Millan according to the instance of the Cardinall of Syon and the Agentes of the Pope and Caesar They also made difficultie to ioyne with the armie that exspected them at Ostiano for that it was prepared to marche agaynst the Frenche king offering to goe to the seruice of anye place that the Pope shoulde thinke good in the estate or dominion of the Churche for the defending of whiche they sayde they were entred into paye And yet according to their barbarous interpretacion of things they consented to marche to assayle Parma and Plaisanca as Cities manifestlye apperteyning to the Churche or at least to the whiche the Frenche kinge had no certayne righte or interest They required also that affore they should march there shoulde bee sente to them from th armie three hundred lighte horsemen the better with their ayde to leauye vittayles in those countreys and places through the whiche they shoulde passe These were the difficulties they stoode vppon bearing more vppon frowarde wilfulnesse then vppon reason or necessitie of the present seruice Neuerthelesse in the ende the light horsemen were sente who passed at vnwares in greate diligence along the territories of the Venetians They disposed their marching so as they might come into some place moste neare the armie to haue the more conueniencie and oportunitie to consulte and resolue what were to bee done And in their waye they gaue the chase to certayne bandes of the Frenche and the Venetians whiche were bestowed at Pondovville or rather vpon the lake of Eupile to stoppe their passage Assoone as they were drawen neare to the armie there was present labour made to dispose them to ioyne agaynst the French in which solicitacion were employed many messangers and Embassadours and chiefly tharchbishop of Capua going to and fro in the name of the Cardinall de Medicis At laste the bandes that were leauyed of the Canton of Surich who as they haue a greater authoritie so they make profession to doo thinges with a greater grauitie refused it constantly The others after many doubtes and obiections neither expresly denyed nor manifestly accepted the offers that were made to them for that as they refused not to followe the armie so yet it was without declaracion that they woulde enter with them into the Duchie of Millan So that what by the counsayle of the Cardinall of Syon and labour of the Capteynes into whose willes were made manye corrupte insinuacions by offers and promises the armie determined to marche on vnder this hope that since they refused not to followe they woulde not bee harde to be drawne to any place where the armie went. The bandes of Surich conteining foure thousande in number brake of and returned towardes Reggia and the armie after it had remayned about a moneth betwene Gabionetti and Ostiano ioyned with the other Svvizzers at Gambaro They caried marching in the middest of them the two Legates of Syon Medicis with their crosses of siluer enuironed with infinit weapons artilleries blasphemers mankillers robbers so much at that time did they abuse the reuerence of religion
the chiefe Magistrate of that Citie And as one furie draweth on an other and in an vprore is seldome seene any moderacion so they ranne with their armed weapons throughout the towne and made slaughter of diuerse other Citisens their aduersaries with suche an vniuersall terror and feare that not one durst oppose agaynst them Neuerthelesse assone as the first violence was somewhat ceassed the same feare that had amased others beganne to terrifie themselues by the remorse and greatnes of the offences they had done In which oportunitie certayne wise Citisens thrusting in to solicite and appease the murderers issued out of the Citie vnder certayne condicions and afterwardes were sharpely persecuted by thinhabitantes of Lucquay Thus were the matters of Lombardie and Tuskane brought to some appeasement but the College of Cardinalls taking no care of thestates of the Church partly for the Popes absence but more for the ambicion and disagreementes that were betwene them Sigismond the sonne of Pandolfo Malateste an auncient Lorde of Rimini tooke almost wholly into his handes the gouernment of that City hauing therin but a very small intelligence And albeit Cardinall Medicis at thinstance of the Colledge went to Bolognia as Legate of that Citie both to recouer Rimini and to reorder the other affayres of Romagnia whiche were muche troubled and altered to whom the Colledge had promised to sende to his succours the Marquis of Mantua capteine generall of the Churche yet nothing sorted to effect no lesse by the wantes and impedimentes of money then through the iealousie and emulacion of the Cardinalls his aduersaries who obiected themselues agaynst all counsells and actions that any waye might aduaunce his reputacion or greatnes The ende of the fourtenth Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE FIFTENTH BOOKE POpe Adrian comes to Rome The Venetians make league vvith themperour The Frenchmen besiege Millan and are constrayned aftervvardes to returne from it Cardinall Medicis is created Pope King Frauncis discendeth into Italie he taketh Millan and besiegeth Pauia Themperour Charles sendeth out an armie to the succours of Pauia vvhere a battell is fought and the French king taken prisoner THE FYFTEENTH BOOKE OF THE historie and discourse of Guicciardin ALBEIT the late victorie agaynst the Frenche men had somewhat reduced the matters of Lombardie into an estate peasible and setled yet it had nothing diminished the vniuersal suspicion that the king would eftsones recontinue the warre and in short time bring new inuasions vpon the Duchie of Millan for both his owne kingdome stoode quiet and acquited from ciuill troubles his Capteines and bandes of men of warre whom he had sent into Italie were returned in safetie the Svvizzers well disposed and prepared to take his paye as before and lastely the Senate of Venice stoode firme with him in the auncient league and confederacion Whiche argumentes ioyned to the remembrance and passion of his harmes receyued and no lesse concurring the violent inclinacion of his youth naturally caryed with moodes of reuenge were sufficient to arme his minde with bloody desires and to make him by his vallour to seeke to recompence the displeasures whiche the malice and enuie of his fortune had lately heaped vpon him By the consideracion of which daunger the Capteines of thimperialls were driuen to enterteine and paye th armie A compulsion very harde and grieuous for that they receiued no supplies of money neither from Caesar nor from the kingdome of Naples And touching thestate of Millan it was so narrowly raked and gleaned that of their proper treasor and habilitie they were not able to susteine so great a proporcion of exspences as were distributed to the feeding of so many souldiors And therefore for the releeuing of so great burdens they sent the greatest parte of their companies to be bestowed vppon the estates of the Churche notwithstanding the popular voyces and College of Cardinalls obiected many impedimentes and vayne exclamacions Also other prouinces of Italie were taxed for the conseruacion of the Duchie of Millan and that by the labour and solicitacion chiefly of Don Charles de Lauoy lately made Viceroy of Naples by the death of Don Reimond de Cardona and Don Iohn Manuell The rate of thimposition was that monthly for three monthes next folowing thestate of Millan should contribute a thousande duckets the Florentins fyfteene thousande the Genovvayes eight thousande Siena fiue thousande and Lucgua foure thousand And albeit many murmured agaynst this taxacion yet the feare of so great an armie made it to be both executed and suffred So mightie is necessitie that in cases of extremitie it makes tollerable those things which in all other condicions are ful of inconueniencie and difficultie Onely they of Millan iustified the taxacion to be necessarie for that the defence of all Italie depended vppon the continuacion of that armie Neither dyd it cease after the ende of three monthes for that the same necessitie continuing the imposicion was eftsones renewed though in a farre lesse rate and taxacion In this estate of affayres Italie stoode oppressed with continuall aduersities and no lesse terrified with the feare of greater euills that threatned the vniuersall regions thereof for the remedie whereof muche was attributed to the comming of the Pope as an apt and conuenient instrument by reason of his supreme authoritie to appease and reorder all disorders And albeit Caesar passing at the same time by sea into Spayne and in his way did cōmunicate with the king of Englande had besought him to tarye for him at Barcelona whither he would come in person to honor him as Pope yet ye forbare to abyde themperours comming eyther fearing least for the great distance of themperour who as yet was in thextreme consines of Spayne he should let slippe the commoditie of his good tyme which after his nauigacion began to be rough and daungerous or else he suspected least themperour would solicite him to deferre his voyage or lastly which was more credible he feared to aggrauate thopinion conceiued of him from the beginning that themperour dyd so muche gouerne him as to be hable to lette him to treate of the vniuersall peace betwene Christians An action wherein he was determined to employe all his studies and labours So that ouerruling by his wisdome all these suspicions he passed at last by sea to Rome where he made his entry the xxix of August with a great concourse of the commons and the whole Court of whom albeit his comming was desired with an vniuersall gladnes for that without the presence of the Popes Rome beareth more a resemblance of a sauage deserte then of a Citie yet that spectacle wrought sundrie impressions and diuersitie of thoughtes in the mindes of all men when they considered that they had a Pope for nation language a straunger and for th affayres of Italie and the Court altogether vnexperienced and also for that he was not of those regions and countreys who by long conuersacion were already made familiar with the customes of Italie The
his Capteynes He gaue order to Ranso de Cero to furnishe his gallies with those bandes of footemen which he had at Marceilles And to auoyde all practises and negociacions of peace or at least that he somewhat distrusted the Pope he forbad to passe further thArchbishoppe of Capua that was dispatched to him and so to goe to thEmperour He sent him worde to tarie for him at Auignon in the Court of his mother and negociate with him by letters or else to returne againe to the Pope So firmelie had he fixed his minde vppon the warre that nothing was more hatefull to him then to heare speake of peace against the which he had cloased his eares and shutte vp all inclinacion And in that resolucion he followed the ennemies in the meane while with the greatest diligence he coulde But they making small reckoning of the harmes and domages which the peasantes did to them marched alwayes in good order along the sea side At last they gotte to Monaco and there they brake into peeces their artilleries which for more facilitie of cariage they laded their Mulets withall As soone as they came to Finalo they vnderstoode with what haste the king marched after which made them double their pase to th ende to bee hable in good season to defende the Duchie of Myllan wherein were not remeyning forces sufficient to make resistance Thus both the one and thother armie drawing towardes Italie the same daye that the frenche king came to Verceill the Marquis of Pisquairo arriued at Albo with the horsemen and bandes of Spanishe footemen beinge followed one dayes iorney behinde by the Duke of Burbon and the Launceknightes The Marquis not takinge leasure to pawse or scarcelie to breathe went the daye followinge from Albo to Voginero being fortie myles distant to the ende he might the next daye gette into Pauya And there he ioyned his forces with the Viceroy who was come thither from Alexandria for the garde of which towne he had lefte a strength of two thowsande footemen This was in a tyme when the frenche armie beganne to drawe fast vppon the shoares of the riuer Thesin their diligence in marching being farre swifter then was the opinion of thenemies In this place they consulted with Ieronimo Moron of the estate of their common affaires wherein their first deuise was that leauing sufficient garrison within Pauia they should dispose all their forces to the defense of Millan according to the obseruacion and custome of the other warres In this councell it was set downe that Moron should goe thither forthwith to make prouision for things necessarie and the Duke of Millan to follow him whome they had sent for And they with their companies marched the right way to Millan after they had left within Pauia Anthonie de Leua with three hundred men at armes fiue thowsand footemen being all Spanyards except certeine launceknights But such was the desolacion within Millan that being still afflicted with the great plague that had runne thorowe the towne all the sommer the Citie was sore shaken and litle remeyning of the former apparance and countenaunce The sickenes had consumed infinite numbers of the people and bodies of good seruice and many had abandonned the Citie to auoyde that mortall perill of their liues it conteyned suche prouisions of vittells as it was wont to doe The meanes to taxe and leauie money beganne to growe hard and desperate And touching the fortificacions the aduersity of the sickenes had taken away all care and remembrance of them yea through the negligence of that time al the bulwarkes and rampiers lay reuersed to the grounde Suche are the domages of an vniuersall negligence which euen amidde perills that be manifest and apparaunt takes awaye the studie of thinges that most concerne sauetie and defense And yet albeit the townes men and popular inhabitauntes expressed no want of readinesse to laye them selues downe to all daunger and suffer all trauell whatsoeuer Yet Moron iudging by the present estate and desolacion of the towne that to enter with an armie woulde be more to the ruine then to the defense of the Citie tooke an other councell which he published in the presence of a greate assemblie of the townesmen in this manner of speaches We may say nowe and with the same perturbacion of minde the like wordes which our Sauiour Christ powred out in the middest of his perplexities Truely the spirite is readie but the fleshe is weake I knowe that in you wanteth not the same affection which hath alwayes caried you to honor obey and defende your Lorde Frauncis Sforce And I am not ignoraunt that in him doe make right deepe impressions the calamities and daungers of his deare people for whose sauetie as I knowe he wanteth no inclinacion to offer vp his life and all his mortall estate so in your faces I discerne an vniuersall readinesse to recompense him with the same compassion But what auayleth it to be resolute where fortune hath made greater the perills and daungers then either reason or nature can make assured the hope and howe vainely is employed that fidelitie which is not accompanied with his due respectes to time place and propertie of thinges I see your forces are nothinge aunswerable to your good willes and inclinacions for that your towne is made naked of people your treasories drayned of money your stoare houses consumed of vittells and your fortificacions reduced to extreame ruine matters that of them selues doe offer the frenche men to enter without that you shall neede to beate open your gates or posternes It brings no litle greefe to the Duke to be cōstrayned to leaue you abandonned but it woulde bee more greeuous to him then death if in seeking to defende you he should leade you to your last ruine and desolacion In so great a face and multitude of euills it is holden for good discression to make election of the least not to doubt of better seeing it is geuen to mortall men to hope for all things and to dispaire in nothing In matters of perill it is no shame to flee when the fleeing profiteth him that giueth place to his aduersarie for this reason the Duke aduiseth you to obey necessitie and giue place to the fortune of the frenche king reseruing your remedies for a better time which we can not but hope will happen for your speedie restoring To giue place to necessitie and folowe the lawe of tyme is an office duly apperteining to wise men For the present the Duke will neither abandon him selfe nor giue you ouer in tyme to come Make your sorowes no greater then is the qualitie of your losse and frame your myndes apte to receiue this consolacion that tyme triumpheth ouer all the aduersities of the world You see your cause is iust the power of Themprour mightie his fortune incredible and your enemies no other men then suche against whom your vallours haue so oftentymes preuailed God will beholde your pietie towards the Duke and his compassion
towardes his countrey With him are layde vp the issues of warres in his sight is farre more acceptable the innocencie of your cause then the might of your aduersarie Lastly I wish you all to remeine thus resolute that suffring for a good end that which our present necessitie doeth constraine vs vnto that mightie God whose rule goeth thorow all will take to him selfe the reuenge of our proude enemies by a glorious victorie redeeme vs from those afflictions which we haue suffred so long in his sight After these wordes he dismissed the assembly and causing vittells to be put within the Castle he issued out of the towne The Duke not knowing any thing of that which Moron had done at Millan tooke his way to go thether But immediatly after he was come out of Pauya he met with Ferrand Castriot hauing the conduit of thartillerie who signifying to him that part of thenemies were passed Thesin and that they had ouerthrowen Capteine Succhar a Burgougnon with his light horsmen vppon the shoares of the Ryuer he returned to Pauya fearing to finde ambushes and impediments in the way And albeit the Duke and Moron had proceeded with sinceritie in these causes yet the Emprours Capteines who were with the armie at Binasquo being ielous least they had secretly contracted with the Frenche King sent to Myllan Capteine Alarcon with two hundred Launces either to folowe him or to lye still according to thaduertisementes that should bee giuen He was no sooner aryued there then the people who were alreadie compounded with certeine exiles that negociated in the kings name began to take hart and to publishe the name of Themprour and Frauncis Sforce But Captein Alarcon waighing with the litle hope that remeined of defence the nearenes of the French Vawwarde which was then at hande issued out of the gate called Rome gate and tooke the way to Loda whether was also marched the whole armie This was at the same tyme that thenemies began to enter by the gates of Thesin and Verceill who if they had not turned towards Millan but put vppon them the chase and pursuing of Themprours armie both being weary with marching and hauing lost many of their men at armes and horsses it was beleeued for certeine that they had put the armie to the shocke and defeated with facilitie the forces which affore they feared And moreouer if after they were approched to Myllan they had with the same diligence drawne towardes Loda either Themprours Capteines would not haue dared to staye there or at least passing with diligence the Ryuer of Adda they had with the same fortune and facilitie put to disorder the residue of thenemies But the king who happlie supposed it a matter of great importance to establish and assure at his deuocion Myllan a towne which had made the most principall resistance agaynst him or happlie being caryed with some other cause he did not only draw to the citie of Myllan wherein he would not enter nor suffer the armie to enter but staied to bestow in it sufficient garrison and to giue direction for beseeging the Castle wherein were seuen hundred Spanishe footemen He forbadde to the great praise of his modestie and clemencie that no displeasures should be done to thinhabitants seeking by that insinuacion to reduce a people whome he sawe vntractable by all other meanes after he had published his directions at Millan he turned his armie towards Pauia not holding it conuenient for the estate of his affayres to leaue behinde his backe a Citie wherein were so many souldiors The king had in his armie reckning those that remayned at Millan two thousande launces eight thousande launceknightes six thousand Svvizzers sixe thousand foreriders or aduenturers and foure thousand Italians The number of these last encreased muche afterwardes About this time the Marquis of Pisquaro was got within Loda with two thousand footemen And the Viceroy hauing reuitteled the townes of Alexandria Coma and Tressa was entred into Sonzin with him entred Frauncis Sforce and Charles Burbon who amidde so many difficulties and distresses drewe to them some courage by the going of the king to Pauia They thought to readdresse their companies if the defence of that Citie would giue them libertie and to that purpose they sent into Germanie to leauie sixe thousand footemen with the payes of whom and other expenses necessarie there was prouision made with the fiftie thousande duckets whiche themperour had sent to Genes to employe them in the warres of Prouence But the thing that gaue chiefe impediment to their counsells was the necessitie and wante of money which they suffred For neyther had they meane to drawe any out of the Duchie of Millan and lesse hope to obteine of the Emperour for his dishabilitie any other matter then a commission to offer to be solde at Naples the moste of the reuenues of the kingdome And touching their auncient confederates they exspected none at all or very little reliefe neyther of money nor men for that as the Pope and Florentins ioyntly being sued vnto for some contribucion of money gaue them nothing but generall wordes and hopes more hurting then curing their calamities So the Pope alone who after the Admirall was gone out of Italie stoode resolutely fixed not to intangle himselfe further in the warres betweene themperour and the French king would neuer renew the confederacion made with his predecessor nor contract newe leagues with any prince And whiche more is notwithstanding he declared himselfe inclined to themperour and the king of England yet he had made a secrete promise affore to the French king not to be any impediment to him in the recouery of his duchie of Millan Moreouer when the Venetians were required by the Viceroy to furnishe those bandes of souldiors which they were bounde vnto by the capitulacions of the league albeit they did not slatly refuse them yet their aunswers were but colde and conteyned small hope Their intencion was to accommodate their counsells according to the trayne and proceeding of things wherein they were caryed by one of these reasons eyther for that in many of them was renewed the memorie of their auncient alliance with the French king or else they iudged that he could not but remayne victorious in regarde of his vallour his fortune but specially the mightie forces he brought into Italie agaynst enemies of so slender preparacion and worse prouision or lastely for that themperours ambicion was more suspected to them then before for that he had not inuested Fraūcis Sforce in the Duchie of Millan A matter which the states of Italie did no lesse maruell at then grieuously complayne vpon In this maner of doing also they were muche caryed by the authoritie of the Pope to whose counsells and example they bare no small respect in those tymes The French king made his approach to Pauia on the lower side betwene the ryuer of Thesin and the waye that leadeth to Millan And after he had incamped his vauntgarde within the
be founde in the Lady Regent who began to perceyue that since her sonne was arriued in Spayne the negociations of his deliuerie were not continued with that facilitie that was looked for There is no doubt that these counsels had not easily succeded if the Marquis of Pisquairo had proceeded sincerely in that confederation agaynst themprour But whether at the first he enterteyned the practise or not there was diuersitie of opinions aswell amongest the Spaniardes as in the verye Court of themperour Many that were obseruers of tymes and euentes of affayres beleeued that at the beginning he was simply concurrant with the residue but afterwards he disclaymed from thenterprise and made newe deliberations both for the consideration of many difficulties that might happen with the tyme and also fearing the continuall solicitations of the French with themperour with the resolution that the Duchesse of Alanson should go to him yea some do assure that he deferred so long to aduertise themperour of these conspiracies pretended in Italie that hauing receyued knowledge of them by Antho. de Leua and Marino Abbot of Nagero Commissary in themperours armie all the whole Court maruelled at the silence of the Marquis But how soeuer his dealing was then it is certayne that a little after he sent to themperour Iohn Baptista Castaldo who imparted the reall discourse of the conspiracie and with the priuitie of themperour did not onely enterteine the practise but also the better to decipher the thoughtes of euery man and to take from them all the meane to denie that they had consented he commoned by mouth with the duke of Millan and perswaded Moron to induce the Pope who a little before had indued him with the perpetuall gouernment of the Citie of Beneuent to sende Dominike Savvlo wyth a letter of credence to conferre with him of the matter The conclusions of the treatise were these That betwene the Pope the realme of Fraunce and the gouernments of Italie should be a league ouer the which the Marquis of Pisquairo should be capteine generall That for the first action he should bestowe the infanterie or footebandes of the Spanishe seuerally in sundry places of the Duchie of Millan and so drawing to himselfe so many as would followe him the others shoulde be spoyled and put to the sworde together with Antho. de Leua who next to him selfe was the chiefe commaunder of the armie And then ioyning to him the forces of all the confederates he should execute thenterprise of the kingdome of Naples whereof the Pope was to indue him with the inuestiture The Marquis seemed to finde no other difficultie in these actions sauing that affore he put any thing to tryall he desired to be satisfied whether without blemishing his honor and fidelitie he mighte embrase suche an enterprise in case the Pope put it vppon him by his authoritie Wherevpon was brought into question and consideration to whom he beeing a Baron and subiect of the Realme of Naples ought to obey eyther to themprour to whom the profitable iurisdiction of the Realme apperteined by thinuestiture he had receyued of the Churche or to the Pope in whom was the direct soueraigntie being absolute and soueraigne thereof Vpon which article both at Millan by the ordinance of Frauncis Sforce and at Rome by thappoyntmēt of the Pope were called very secret cōsultations of excellent doctors with suppression of their true names These hopes agaynst themperour were augmented by the offers of the Lady Regent who iudging that eyther the necessitie or the feare of themprour would aduaunce much the matters that were treated with him for the deliuery of her sonne solicited earnestly to take armes promising to send into Lombardy a strength of 500. launces and to be concurrant in thexspences of the warre with great contributions of money Moron for his parte ceassed not to confirme the mindes of the residue in that opinion for besides the perswasions he made howe easie it would be euen without the ayde of the Marquis of Pisquairo to defeate that armie so much diminished in numbers he promised in the Dukes name that if the Marquis should not stande constant but swarue from the resolution of the treatise immediatly after order giuen to the other businesse there should be apprehended prisoners within the Castell of Millan aswell he as the other Capteines hauing dayly accesse thither to consult But albeit these occasions seemed great and no lesse importing the circumstances and dependaunces which they drewe yet they had not bene sufficient to carye the Pope into armes without the Marquis of Pisquairo if at the same tyme he had not hearde of prouision sent to Genes to arme foure Carakes and withall had not had some token and intelligence from Spayne of themperours inclination to passe into Italy A matter which dyd not a little afflict him aswell in regarde of the conditions of the time present as also for the auncient obseruation and disposition of the Popes of Rome to whom nothing hath wonte to bring more terrour and astonishment then the comming of Emperours with armed hande into Italy In so muche as desyring in his feare to meete with this daunger he tooke the consent and priuitie of the Venetians and dispatched secretly into Fraunce to conclude the matters negociated with the Lady Regent Sigismond secretory to Albert Carpy a man experienced in affayres of estate and of singular confidence with the Pope but as he ranne poste towardes Fraunce he was set vppon by night by theeues and robbers and slayne neare the lake of Isea vppon the territorie of Bressia which accident for the secrete keeping of it many dayes brought to the Pope great suspicion that he was secretlye taken and stayed in some place by th imperiall Capteines and happily by the Marquis him self whom they began to distrust muche for his maner of proceeding but more for the delayes he vsed In this estate and condition of affayres arryued the dispatche of Lopus Vtrado who remayning sicke in Sauoye sente his expedition awaye to Millan by a man expresse He brought the letters patentes by the whiche the Marquis of Pisquairo was declared capteine general who to continue with others in the same semblance made as though suche a charge was not very agreable to him and yet he accepted it immediatly The same Lopus sent also to the Protonotorie Carraccioll the commission to goe to Venice in thEmperours name to induce that Senate to a newe confederation or at least to insinuate into them what desyre thEmperour had to lyue in peace with all men In thys tyme Frauncis Sforce was falne into a disease verye daungerous for his lyfe and accepted thinuestiture of the Duchie paying for it fiftie thousande duckets and ceassed not for all that to continue the practises begonne with the Marquis The opinions were diuerse touching this dispatche of thEmperour Some beleeued that he had simply determined to assure thItalians But others iudged that for feare of newe innouations and stirres he sought to
part more rude and obstinat then skilful to order a fight runne in their ignorance to their owne destructions with cries showtes So notwithstāding in their first fury they had forced the olde court the grosse towre of the Bishoprike garded by many Italians yet partly by their own disorders partly by the importunity of certen shot bestowed in places of aduantage which the Spaniards had furnished before many of them fighting in their wilfull humor of liberty founde wretchedly at one instant the priuation of their life liberty together In so much as their disorders feare encreasing by equall degrees and their latest perills hastning with a desperate swiftnes for that the launceknights were vpon poynt to put fire into the next houses besides the calling into the citie the regimentes of Spaniards attending the token or signe to be giuen by the capteins the commons in their last feares offred to parley with thimperials wherin they agreed that their leaders many other persons of suspect should go out of Millan and that the popular multitude should depose armes submit themselues to the obedience of the capteins imperiall who for their partes receiuing the conditions made hast to reappease cease the tumult before the regiments of Spanish footmen entred within the towne fearing least both partes being in armes it would be hard for them to gouerne or bridle the fury of warre or to restraine the souldiors in that readynes from sacking the towne A matter which they doubted yet were loth it should happen aswell for feare least the army being made riche with so great a booty would not grow into corruption and great diminucion as also considering what want of money and other difficulties they might suffer in the warre they iudged it a pollicy more profitable to preserue the citie in which they might long nourish the army then in one day in one fury to consume the force and liuely spirite which it had Thus it seemed that the affayres of the league proceded not with that prosperity which men in their imaginations had promised in the beginning bothe for that there were many difficulties in the discending of the Svvizzers and also the fundation of the people of Millan was shaked and quayled But as there is no estate or condition of worldly things which is not full of vncertenties and casualties so by a new accident that hapned both their reputation was eftsones restored the facilitie of victory made both more great and more apparant then before In so great a discontentment or rather a last dispaire of the duchy of Millan there was enterteined for certayne monethes by the working of many persons sundrye intelligences and practises of innouation almost with all the townes of the Duchy Amongst the which one succeded to good effect in the citie of Loda being managed by the Duke of Vrbin and treasorer of Venice with Lodovvike Vistarin a gentleman of the same Citie who what with the impression that he had bin an auncient seruant to the house of the Sforceis and with the inducement of compassion ouer the calamities of his contrey being no lesse rudely delte withall by Fabricio Maramo Colonell of xv hundred footmē Neapolitains then Millan was by the Spaniards launceknights determined to help into the towne the Venetian regiments notwithstanding he was in the paye of thimperials But he assured and the Duke confirmed it that he had before both demaunded and obteyned his leaue to go away taking his excuse vpon this reason that he was no longer hable to enterteine without money the bandes of souldiors which were committed to his charge This was the order direction of the enterprise That vpō the xxiiij day of Iune by night Malatesta Baillon with three or foure thousand footmen of the Venetians should about the vanishing of the day approche the walls of the citie on that side where was a certayne bastillion to thend to be receiued in by Vistarin who a litle before with two others that accompanied him being come neare the bastilliō which six souldiors garded as it were to search being folowed with some others of his faction whō he had hidden within certen houses thereby he leaped vpon the bastillion and began to fight with the souldiors that garded it for albeit he had pronounced before the watchword according to the custome of warre yet the souldiors being doubtfull of treason were come to handstrokes with him when others running by the brute of thalarme that was made the bastillion was in great daunger to be recouered by the fury of the fray wherin Lodovvike was hurt But as he was almost reduced to the last necessitie Malatesta aryued with his bands skaling the bastillion by the helpe of their ladders they entred the towne which they had so long desired by which entry both by force intelligēce the alarme running through the towne Fabricio Maramo prepared himself to go to the walls with a great part of his souldiors but cōming to late to the reskew of that which was already lost he was constrayned for his safety to retyre into the Castell Thus the towne was surprised and the most part of the souldiors that were lodged in sundry places of the city were stripped made prisoners A litle after the Duke of Vrbin arriued with one part of his regiments who to make his approches the better was marched the day before to lodge at Oragno vpon the riuer of Oglio which he passed the same night by the fauor of a bridge made in hast vnderstanding of the entry of Malatesta within Loda he passed also vpon a like bridge the riuer of Adda and after he had bestowed a greater garrison within Loda for the better defense in case succours should be ministred by the meane of the castell he returned immediatly to the army But assone as the knowledge of this accident was come to Millan the Marquis of Guast with certeine troupes of light horsemen a strength of three thousand spanish footmen amongst whom was Iohn of Vrbin made with great celerity to Loda hauing without impediment bestowed his bands of footmen within the castel by the benefit of whose scituaciō he might enter with sauety by a way naturally couered defended without daunger to be annoied with shot cōming from the flanks of the city he made a sodaine irruptiō into the city by the castel got to the market place where the forces that Malatesta brought with him and the succours that came afterwards had made their strength or place of defence put diuerse houses vnder gard together with the streete that led to the gate by the which they were entred to th end they might be hable to retire and issue with sauety if it hapned that thimperialls became maisters The fight was valliantly performed for the beginning which vallor if it had continued in the Spaniards the iudgement ran that they had recouered Loda for that the Venetian souldiors
declined no lesse to cowardise thē to wearines But as in surprises when thenterprise commeth to an execution distrust is for the most part greater then confidence feare farre aboue resolucion assurance so the Marquis of Guast either for that he found a greater number of souldiors then he had esteemed in the beginning or for that he had a conceit that the Venetian army was at hand retired presently from the fight returned to Millan after he had furnished the castell with a garrison Immediatly after this skirmish the Duke of Vrbin came againe to Loda making no litle glory that without staying he had passed his army ouer two great riuers by the benefit of bridges and the better to assure the victory he resupplied the regiments that were within Loda to thend to make the better resistance in case thennemies would returne to recouer the thing frō the which they had bene repulsed he caused artilleries to be planted roūd about the castel the better to assure the seege cut of the reskewes that might be sent neuertheles the defendāts both for their small exspectacion of succors the meanes of their releefe being cut of and lesse hability to defend the castell which for his small circuit was not capable of many men left the castell abandoned the night following being receiued by certeine horsemen sent frō Millan for that purpose This cōquest of Loda hapned very cōueniently gaue great reputacion to the affaires of the league both for that the city was well fortified and bare a name to be one of those which it was thought thimperialls would defend to the last from Loda the victors might march without impedimēt euen to the gates of Millan Pauia for that those cities bearing a scituacion in triangle are twenty miles one from an other for which cause the imperialls dispatched with great expedicion xv hundred launceknightes to Pauia Moreouer the league had won the passage of Adda which before was supposed to be very troublesome all impediments were remoued that might hinder all the armies of the league to ioyne together all meanes taken away to succour Cremona in which city lay in garrison Capteine Couradin with xv hundred launceknights and the enemies depriued of place apt to trauel and vex the state of the Church the Venetians Insomuch as the common opinion of the whole army was that if they aduaunced with speede according to their fortune the imperials could not but be reduced into great perplexity cōfusiō But the Duke of Vrbin was of an other iudgemēr holding it an enterprise of great peril to draw nere to Millan without a great strēgth of Svvizzers yet for that he would not discouer to others that which he reteined in his secret opiniō he was cōtented to seme to do the thing he intēded not in that resoluciō marching slowly reapposing alwaies one day at the least in euery lodging he determined neuertheles to giue time to the discēding of the Svvizzers hoping that within few daies they would be with the army yea he had so great exspectaciō of their cōming notwithstāding by thexperiēce of their long tract deferring there was great dout reapposed such assurāce in their vallour that onles they came he contēned al mocions inducemēts to action enterprise what reason or property of likelyhoode soeuer they bare After the conquest of Loda the church army marching to S. Martin within iij. miles of Loda it was resolued there by cōmon councel that after the ij armies that is to say thEcclesiastikes the Venetias had soiorned there one day they should draw the next day towards old Loda about v. miles frō Loda where it is writtē that Pompey builded Loda so taking the high way that leadeth to Pauia they pretēded vnder that marching to threatē Millā Pauia a deuise to hold thimperials in greater feare suspēce the same day the armies Ecclesiastike Venetian ioined together in the field as they marched being almost equal in nūbers of footmen cōteining in all few lesse thē xx thousand only the Venetians exceded thē in nūbers of men at armes light horsemen in prouisions of artilleries municions with al other necessary habillemēts of war The day following they reapposed at old Loda where the Capteines taking councell for the disposing of their marching determined that hereafter the armies shoulde keepe along the high way the better to auoide the incōmodities of the contry which out of the high way is full of ditches risings other impediments to marching One reason also of following that way was the facility to giue succours to the castell by the oportunity of the way that leadeth towardes the gate of Coma rather then by the way of Landriano which turneth to the gate of Verceill by the which was greater difficultie to lead the army in regard of the quality disposicion of the contry lastly by the benefit of that way there was a more safe recourse traffike for vittels to follow the armies more easy for the discēding receiuing of the Svvizzers who were alwaies to secōd thē back thē with this resolucion the army being gathered into one maine strēgth ariued the last day of Iune at Marignan where being drawn into coūcel touching the further directiō disposing of the warre the Duke of Vrbin perswaded vehemētly to abide the cōming of the Svvizzers of whose discending he had happily some more assured informacion thē before he considered that without such a strength and firme backe it could not but be daungerous to draw neare Millan with regiments of souldiours vntrained and leauied in hast notwithstanding there was within the towne of enemies but a very slender strength of horsemen three thousand launceknights and but fiue or six thowsand Spaniards footmen to whose small numbers of bodies were adioyned many discommodities wants as lack of money which maketh the souldiors vnwilling very litle prouision of vittells which weakeneth him for the fight with other impediments much hindring the action exspected in souldiours But the other capteines were not of his opiniō for that they iudged that marching in order and alwaies vsing good skoutes to discouer their camping places for the day before there could be no daūger to approch Millan the rather for that the parts of the contry were euery way so strong and desensible that without difficulties the army might alwaies incampe in places of surety They reasoned that it was not likely that thimperials would issue out into the field to inuade thē for that leuing necessarily the castell besieged by that occasiō being not to lead their whole forces out of the town for suspicion of the cōmons of Millan their nūbers would be too few to set vpon so great an army which albeit was dressed cōpounded of bodies new raw yet was gouerned by the best experienced Capteines in Italy hauing withal dispersed in seueral bands of the army many troupes
City of Genes hauing the sea shut vp could not menteine it selfe long both for the restraint of marchandise for thimpediment of exercises and for the cutting of accesse of vittels And notwithstanding the frenche king protested to stop the comming of the Duke of Burbon yet it was a promise vaine and ill assured both for that his vessells were not in order which hindred thexpedicion and also the Capteines of his gallies partely for want of money and partelie through negligence and happilie of purpose were very slowly furnished to accomplishe the seruice The same fault or negligence was also vsed in aduauncing the men at armes appointed to his porcion But the ariuall of the Duke of Burbon being vnknowen to the army of the league that was without the resolucion that had bene set downe to aduaunce forward was peruerted by the Duke of Vrbin that either by some aduertisements which he had receiued from Millan or by the reapport of some spie for leauing the distrust which he had reteined till that day he assured the Popes Lieutenant in the presence of the Venetian treasorer That he made an assured reckoning that the day following would be a day of prosperity happy successe seing saith he if thenemies issue out to fight which he could not beleue they could not but be ouerthrowen broken in case they did not issue out he was certeine that either they would abandon Millan the same day retire into Pauia or at least abandoning the defense of the subburbs they would gather themselues into the Citie which they had no meane to defende after the subburbes were lost insomuch as he warranted that any of these three accidents was sufficient to make them remeine victors maisters of the warre Therfore ioyning diligence to the oportunity that offred the day following being the seuenth of Iuly they left the lodging appointed for the day before hoping to win the subburbes without resistance wherein rising in a glorie to surprise them by assault in marching certeine troupes of their souldiours ran in their insolency to giue a charge vpon the gates of Rome Tosa where notwithstanding the aduertisements they had the day before redoubled the same day that the Spaniards would breake vp and go away yet they found vaine those relacions for that the Spaniards affronted them made head orderly against their disordered charge not that they ment to make a cōtinuall resistance but like men of warre showing their faces to thenemies to retire in order to Millan rather then to leaue to thenemy that aduantage to say that they found the subburbes cowardlie abandoned Moreouer by making that resistance they did not only preserue the reputaciō of their army reteining still in their power to make their retraite alwaies into the City without disorder But also in the action might happen some occasion to take hart and perseuere in the defense of the subburbes a matter of right great importance for that to make their retire into the towne was an election to be followed rather by necessity then of will seing that besides many other reasons if they should restraine themselues into a circuit of place so strait litle it would be so much the more easie to the armies of the league to stoppe the entrie of vittels into Millan without which kinde of releefe they could not long hold out for that the prouisiōs of new corne were not yet come in Thus certeine bands of harquebuziers being presented to the defense of the two gates where also the other Spanyardes ceassed not to labor fortifie cōtinually The Duke whose opinion was beguiled in that resistance caused three cannons of battery to be drawne within a crosbow shot of Rome gate and hauing planted them brauely he began to execute vpon the gate In whiche batterie he laboured to leauie or dismount a falconnet and so made discend certeine bands of souldiours to giue thassault and gaue direction to bring on the skaling ladders But altering immediatlie his purpose to giue thassault the matter was turned into light skirmishes of shotte betwene those that were without and the defendantes that were vppon the rampartes who fighting at great aduauntage slewe about fortie of the confederates and hurte many In this meane while the gate had felt many blowes of the cannon though with verie small dammage for that the cannons being planted farre of the bullet lost muche of his force by the farre distaunce of the place insomuche as no benefite rising by the execucions of the cannons and no aduauntage gotten by the skirmishe of the shotte the Duke considering it woulde be verie late to lodge the campe woulde not suffer the assault to be performed but gaue order to bestow and forrie the campe in that place which was not done not without consusion for the shortnes of the time There was left a reasonable gard for the three Cannons and the residue of the campe were bestowed almost full vpon the right hand of the way euerie one hauing great hope of the victorie both for that by many aduertisementes and by the relacion of prisoners taken they had certeine informacion that thimperialls trussed baggage prepared rather to depart then to defende the place To this hope was ioyned also this good happe that in good time the same euening there came to the campe sixe Cannons of the Venetians a releefe muche helping on the comfort and hope of the victorie But as in worldly things there is no assurance till the end be knowen and all mortall men and their actions are put vnder an estate of incerteinty and errour according to their constitucion being full of frailtie and imperfection so not long after that hope and the glorious imaginacion of the victorie did not onely chaunge but also the whole estate of the affaires varied altered for that certeine bands of spanish footmen issuing out almost vppon the beginning of the night to set vppon thartillerie were repulsed beaten in by the footemen that had the gard of the same notwithstanding the Duke of Vrbin said that they were driuen in in disorder Insomuch as after two or three howers of the night were past he determined without councell to dislodge and retyre the armie taking his reason for so sodaine alteracion vppon the matter of his hope which he sawe abused for that he founde resistance at the gates and defendantes vpon therampartes of the suburbes and also the feare he had conceiued before of the infanterie of thenemies was in this rashnes of some consideracion with him And proceeding in his sodaine passion to execute the matter he had resolued without councell or consent of others he gaue order to the artilleries and municions to march away and commaunded the regiments of the Venetians to prepare to depart Lastly he sent to the Treasorer and Lieutenant and other Capteines of the Church to signifie more in speede then with reason the resolucion he had set downe perswading them to do the like
Pope who was entred into the warre with very litle store of money and deepely imbarked into great exspenses could hardly both with the money of his owne store and with the contribucions brought to him continually from Florence to furnish the charges of the warre make sufficient prouisions to stoppe them Being withall troubled with a new enterprise in Tuskane and constrayned to stand vpon his gard about Rome for after Don Hugo and the Duke of Sesso had taken leaue of the Pope and had deposed them selues from the action of their embassage Askanius and Vespasian Colonno being then reduced within the small borowes of the Colonnoys which are neare to Rome made many demonstracions to stirre vp some emocion on that side Many of their factioners and adherents being drawne to a strength within Alagno And the Pope was driuen to keepe a diligent eye vppon their doings and stirres aswell for the regarde of the Gebelin faction in Rome as for that not many dayes before were discouered against him many signes of the ill disposicion of the Commons The reason was for that when he tooke into his pay Andrea Dore and for the better furnishing of that charge had raysed and improued certeine impostes vnder coller to assure the seas of Rome against the foystes of the Moares by whome the traffique and wealth of the citie was greatly hindred the Butchers refused to pay their part of the taxacion assembling in manner of a tumult affore the lodging of the Duke of Sesso not as yet departed from Rome And by their example all the Spanyards that were within the towne ranne thether in armes Neuerthelesse this tumult was easily appeased About this tyme the Pope stoode in doubt if he should enforce thenterprise to alter the state of Syenna for that the councells of such as were about him differed and were of diuers humors for some reapposing confidence no lesse in the great number of the exiles then in the confusion of the gouernment popular perswaded by many reasons that thinnouacion and chaunge of the state would be an action of great facilitie wherein they ledde him on in this propertie of well liking that in that tyme it would be a matter of great importance to assure him selfe of that estate for that in all accidents that might happen the entry which the enemies might make that way might be very daungerous for the affayres of Rome and Florence But others induced him that it were farre better for him to addresse all his forces into one place onely then to intangle him selfe with so many enterprises with a very litle or none at all alteracion or diuersion of the principall effects for that in the ende such as remeyned maisters in Lombardy would become Commaunders in euery place Lastly they told him he was not to lay such a foundacion of confidence vppon the forces and trayne of the exiles whose hopes in the ende would be found vayne as to set vppon the mutacion of that state without making of mightye and stronge prouisions suche as was very hard for him to accomplishe aswell for the greatnes of thexpences which in enterprises draweth the deepest care as for the want of principall Capteines whome he had already sent to the warre of Lombardye It may be these last perswasions had preuailed more with him if those that gouerned within Sienna had proceeded with that moderacion which in affayres of small importance the inferiors ought to vse towards their superiors hauing more regard to necessity then to a iust discontentment for thus it hapned There was one Iohn Baptista Palmier Capteine within Sienna of an hundred footemen for the citie who hauing of long time before giuen hope to the Pope that in sending his bands of souldiers to the towne he would put them within by a sluce or gutter that passed vnderneath the wall neare to a bastillion And by his direction the Pope hauing sent to him two footemen men of assurance and credit to one of the which Iohn Baptista gaue his enseigne to beare The Magistrats of the citie with whose priuitie he enterteyned this practise and abused the Pope caused these two footemen to be apprehended against whome after they had proceeded by way of accusation and iudicially condemned them with publicacion of the conspiracie they passed them to the execucion of manifest death to th ende to slaunder the Pope as much as they could Moreouer they sent certeine bands of their souldiers to beseege Iohn Martynozze one of the exiles dwelling in the contry about Syenna all which things done as it were in despite of the Pope incensed him with the fury of a mind iniuried to aduenture to restore all the exiles within Sienna with his owne forces the strength of the Florentyns But as the general prouisions were more weake then apperteyned to the action of such an enterprise especially the numbers of footemen So also the vallour authoritie of the Capteines recompensed nothing the weaknes of the army ouer the which he instituted as chiefe cōmaunders Virginio Vrsin Count of Languillaro Lodovvyk Count of Petillane Iohn Fran. his sonne Gentill Baillon Iohn Sassatello who making their muster at Centyna drawing along the riuer of Arbyra so much renowmed for the worthy victorye of the Gebelins against the Guelffes of Florence approched the walls of Sienna about the xvij of Iuly with nyne peeces of artilleries twelue hundred horse more then eight thowsand footemen almost all leauied in the state of the Church Florentyns or at least all sent without money to the exiles by their friends from Perousa other places And at the same time Andrea Dore with his gallies a thowsand footemen sent to him in supply made inuasion vppon the hauen of the Siennoys But in this their hope was deceiued that when the forces approched neare the walls of Sienna they within made no signe of tumult by which disappointment they were constrained to setle in campe beseege the towne in which was a strength of six hundred horsemē three hundred footemen forreyners And as the enemies made their approches to the gate of Camollia and began on that side to batter the wall with their artilleries So the citie being strong by situacion wel fortified with rampars for the circuit so great that the army enuyroned but the lesse part of it They found the inhabitants disposed with firme resolucion to defende the gouernment that then ranne wherein their hatred against the Pope Florentyns caried them more vehemently then the affection they bare to the exiles And of the contrary in the army that beseeged them the souldiers hauing no pay made to them were litle profitable to the seruice And the Capteines hauing no reputacion in armes were also in ciuill diuision amongest them selues together with the exiles who varied notonely vppon the prouisions daily councels but also contended for the forme of the future gouernment seeking to impart and deuide being without the thing which
women being moste wretched in pouerty and nakednes No entercourse of marchantes or trade which before was wont to enrich the citie And the chearfulnes and spirites of men were wholly conuerted into a state of languishing dolor and feare No no other thing remayned of the glorious apparance of that city then the fundations of houses Churches and yet euen in them was discerned a lamentable spectacle in regard of the former memory of them Neuertheles as there is no sorrowe without his comfort nor no mischiefe without his remedy so their afflictions and heauines tooke some consolation for the comming of the Duke of Burbon for that the brute went he brought some reliefe to the army and also in their miserie they made this last perswasion that for the retrayte of the campe of the confederates their necessities and daungers would somwhat diminish And they hoped that the Duke to whom it was sayde themprour had giuen the Duchy of Millan would for his owne interests and the better to preserue the reuenues and estate of the citie take order agaynst so licensious oppressions of the Spaniards This was a naked hope without any staye or fundation for that they knew by relation of their embassadors whō they had sent to thempror that there was no further exspectation of remedy from him eyther for that by hys farre distance he could not apply necessary prouisions for their safety or else which they iudged by many experiences the compassion of the oppressions and miseries of the people was farre colder in him then his desire for thinterests of his estate to minister to that my and maynteine it To the which because paymentes were not made in times due neither his authoritye which was farre of nor the lawes of his capteines ioyned to their presence could not conteine the souldiors frō insolencies and iniuries Neither did the capteines to insinuate winne the harts of the souldiours sharing also in the profite of so vniuersall a spoyle labor much to restrayne this licence of warre the rather for that vnder their cōplaintes excuses of want of payes they cloked what so euer was done in insolency oppression In so much as the chiefest within Millan aboue the residue assembling in one great number expressing in their face their attire and whole apparance the miserable estate of their contrey including also their own wretched condition went with many teares cōplaints to seke the duke of Burbon afore whose feete that pitifull spectacle of Citisens fell prostrate and one of them deliuered the complayntes of their griefe in this sort Were it not that the heauy oppressions of this Citie for their nature more bitter and for their time more intollerable then euer raged ouer any city or contrey within the age or memory of men did not hinder the due offices and humilities which in so generall inclination of the whole contrey to haue a prince proper and peculiar our affections would offer prefer your cōming oh gracious Duke had bin embrased with ceremonies apparances agreable to the gladnes comfort we receiue in the aspect of your gracious honorable presence For as to men liuing vnder a cloude of obscurity darknes nothing is so swete as the desire of light and nothing more acceptable thē the vse benefit of the same So to the citie of Millan so long restrained vnder the yoke of seruitude and oppression no worldly thing could be offred of more felicity or comfort thē to behold in your face the effect of our long exspectation to receiue of the hand of thempror a prince of right noble discending in whom in many actions at sundry times we haue experienced your wisdome your iustice your vallor your clemency your liberality But our seuere bitter fortune vnder whose lawes we are without all moderation subdued constrayneth vs exspecting our remedy of none other then of you to poure out afore you our miseries being greater without comparison then those that any townes taken by assalt did euer endure by the fury by the ambition or by the lust of any tyrants that conquered thē Which things of themselues intollerable are yet made more grieuous to vs by the continual reproches heaped against vs that they are inflicted vpō vs for punishmēt of our infidelity to themprour As though the late tumultes proceded by publike consent not by the incitation of certen yongmen sedicious who in their rashnes drew to their factiō the cōmons who by their pouerty were assured to lose nothing by their nature liue always desirous of innouation change and therefore are a kind an estate of people that with so much the more facility are allured to cōmocion by how much they are cōpounded of humors replenished with errors vaine persuasiōs stirring at the appetite of euery thing that moueth thē euen as the waues of the sea are caried with euery light vapor or wind that bloweth And touching the accusations that are heaped against vs we seke not either for our excuse or to make lesse the quality of the crime to reduce into reckoning the merites of the people of Millan frō the greatest to the hiest for the seruice of thēpror in the yeres before first when the whole citie vnder the memory of their auncient deuotion to the name of thempror rose against the gouernors against the french king an experience reasonably inducing with what property of affection we sought to introduce the authority supremacy of thempire Secōdly whē with so great cōstancy we bare out two most straite harde besiegings submitting willingly our vittels houses and our mony to the cōmodity of the souldiors with thē cherfully exposed our persons to euery watch and ward to all daungers and to all actions of warre An example of sufficient credit to iustify our faith loyaltie to the sacred name of themprour And thirdly when at the battell of Bicocque the inhabitantes of our towne defended with so braue resolution the bridge the onely passage by the whiche the Frenche were to pearce euen into the bowels of the imperiall army A confirmation without resistance that we preferred the defence of themprours cause before the safety of oure owne liues Then was our fayth recōmended then was our valour reputed to vs for good then was our constancy lifted vp to the third heauē both by Prospero Colonno the Marquis of Pisquairo by the other capteines And in these actions we may truly call vpon the testimony of your excellencye since beeing present in the warre which thadmirall Bonnyuet made your eyes saw your toung cōmended your hart did oftē maruell at so great fidelitie so assured disposition But it agreeth not with our condition to insist vpon the memory of these things nor to counterpeise merits with offences since our misery present offreth to stand agaynst all operations of merits or seruices paste And if nowe there can be found in the people
chearfull affability that he was no lesse agreued with their infelicities then touched with remorse and desire to releue them which compassion he tolde them he would extende as much as in him lay not onely vpon the citie but also ouer the whole Duchy he excused the insolencies done that they were not only agaynst the will of themprour but also contrary to thintention of all the Capteines whom for that there was no meane to paye the souldiours necessitie had induced to consent rather to suche outrages then to abandon Millan and leaue the armie in daunger and put all thestate which themprour had in Italy in manyfest praye to thenemies He tolde them he had brought with him some quantitie of money but not sufficient to content the souldiours to whom many payes were due Neuerthelesse if the Citie of Millan would furnishe him with thirtie thousand duckets for the pay of one moneth that he would cause the armie to issue out of Millan and bestowe them elsewhere assuring them that thought at other times they had bin abused in the like promises the custome of other men should breede no law in him for that he would alwayes obserue his fayth and worde vpon the which they might assuredly reappose themselues which he confirmed with this last addition that if he fayled them he wished his head might be takē from his shoulders by the first shot of Cannon from thenemies But albeit suche a summe both for the quantitie whiche was great to men already consumed and for the suddennes wherein was matter of more astonishment to those who were already amazed was hard to be found in the citie so muche wasted yet the miseries they endured in lodging the souldiors being greater then all other degrees of calamities they accepted the cōdition of the duke and began to make prouision with as great diligence as they could But their calamities were rather suspended then ended for that albeit one part of the souldiours amongest whom was imparted ratably the money that was leauyed were sent to lodge in the suburbes of Romegate and the gate of Tosa and there both to garde the rampars and worke at the fortifications and also to labour at the trenche towards the garden where Prospero Colonno had made one before yet they retayned still no lesse then the others that abode in the towne the same lodginges they had and continued to handle their hostes with the same rudenes Wherein it seemed the Duke of Burbon helde no reckoning of his promise or at least as was beleeued he was not hable to resiste the rage and insolencie of the souldiours beeing enterteyned and pushed on in that humor by certayne Capteynes who eyther by wyll or through ambicion or for hatred gaue impedimentes to his counsells But the miserable people of Millan beeing thus depriued of their laste hope and hauing not where to make their further recourse fell into suche an estate of dispayre that some of them to put ende by dying to so many miseries and cruelties which they coulde not ouercome by liuing threw them selues headlong from the toppe of their houses into the streetes and some dyd wretchedlye hang them selues And yet notwithstanding all those grieuous spectacles neyther the rauine nor rage nor inhumanitie of the souldiours coulde bee anye waye appeased In that tyme also the playne countrey was in poore condition beeing no lesse ransackte by the souldiours of the Confederates who as they were receyued at firste wyth a greate ioye and desyre so not longe after theyr inhumanities and extorsions had conuerted the first affections of the people into iuste hatreds A corruption which generally ranne amongest the men of warre of that tyme who taking example by the Spaniardes wasted their friendes aswell as they destroyed their enemies for notwithstanding in many chaunges of tymes the libertie of souldiours had bene great in Italy yet it had taken infinite augmentation by the footemen of the Spaniards though not vppon iuste cause yet for reasons necessary for that in all the warres of Italy they were alwayes yll payde So that vnder the cooller of examples notwithstanding they had a beginning excusable yet they proceeded and continued alwayes from yll to worse By whose rule the Italians albeit they had not the same necessitie for that their payes were orderly performed yet making the custome of the Spaniardes a lawe to them they began not to be inferiour to them in any course of enormities In which corruption to the great contempt of the discipline of warre of that time the souldiors waighed in one ballance both their friends and their enemies and so both peoples and countreys were no lesse desolated by suche as were payed to defende them then those that receyued their payes to inuade and spoyle them About this time the besieged within the Castell of Millan were reduced to such straytes for want of vittells that they were at poynt to render the Castell But because for their longer holding out certayne of the chiefe confederates enterteined them with hopes to be succoured they thrust out in the night at the Castell gate which hath his prospect vpon the trenches that enuironed it without more then 300. footmen women children mouthes vnprofitable Who albeit the enemies that warded at that place hearing the noyse of their going gaue the alarme to the residue yet they passed away all in safety without any impedimēt finding fauour in the straytnes of the trenches aide of their pikes There were two trenches about two stories cast from the Castell betwene them both a rampar of forty faddomes high which rampar as it serued as a garde agaynst the Castell so also it couered such as without would assayle the trenches This miserable trowpe excluded out of the Castell went to Marignan where the army was and giuing good testimony of thextremitie wherein the Castell was and no lesse experience of the weaknes of the trenches for that both women and little children founde passage thorow them the Capteines by their relation turned eftsones to deuise for the succour of the Castell with whom did readily concurre the Duke of Vrbin to th end he woulde not take vpon him selfe alone the burden of thexcuse which he supposed would not be nowe so easie as before for that his army being nowe possessed of a strength of fiue thousande Svvizzers there was cut off the principall cause of daunger alleaged to make their approches to Millan without other footemen then thItalians So that it was set downe with a full consent of Counsell that the armie should directly addresse their approches to the Castell and commaunding the Churches of S. Gregorie and S. Angelo neighbours to the counterskarpes they should incampe below Millan With which resolution the armye brake vp from Marignan and for the impedimentes of the wayes being cloyed with hilles ditches they marched foure dayes by wayes troublesome and the xxij of Iulye they came to incampe betwene the Abbey of S. Caesareo and the ryuer of Ambro in
the Duke of Burbon and surprised by espiall showed himselfe very irresolute what course to take The xi day they passed the ryuer of Taro and the daye following they lodged at the borowe Saint Donin where they exercised their malice against holy relikes and images of Saints The xiij day they incamped at Firenzolo from whence as was discerned by surprising of letters they solicited the bandes of Millan to come and ioyne with them who albeit were agreing with them in they same desire yet the were reteyned by want of money for the penurie of the Spaniardes carying them into mindes insolent and disobedient made them bolde to saye that they would not departe out of Millan vnlesse they were satisfied of their olde payes and in that disorder they began to sacke and spoyle But at laste to stoppe the course of so daungerour a mutinie the industrie of the Capteines reappeased the angrie mindes of the souldiours who were contented to receyue onely fiue payes which to furnishe and accomplish they were driuen to despoyle the Churches of their plate and to imprison many Citizens Wherein the better to conteine the whole in safety such of the souldiours as were payde the Capteines sent to Pauia though with very greate difficultie for that they were loth to leaue the place where they had liued with so great libertie And because the action of these things would require some time the Capteines in the meane while sent beyonde Pavv certayne bands of horsemen and footemen Italians to ioyne with the launceknightes And albeit the Popes Lieftenant had made instance that the duke of Vrbin for the better suretie of the state of the Church would passe the ryuer of Pavv on that side with the Venetian regimentes yet the Duke had not onely deferred to passe alleaging sometimes that he exspected the will and resolution of the Venetians and sometimes temporising vppon other causes and reasons but also he gaue signification to the Senate that if he should leade the army ouer the ryuer of Pavv there would be daunger least thimperialls would inuade their estates for which allegation holding more vppon feare then good reason of warre he receyued straite charge from them not to passe the ryuer And he had also in that regarde reteined many dayes the bands of footemen that were vnder the commaundement of Iohn de Medicis whom the Lieftenant had vehementlye solicited to passe Pavv for the defence of the affayres of the Church And where as the Marquis of Salussa had passed the ryuer of Adda of whoÌ„ the Lieftenant had required succours aswell to assure the things of the Churche as for that by the great diminution of the Svvizzers and Grisons he sawe himselfe not strong ynough at Vavvry Nowe the Venetians who before had consented that the Marquis should passe Pavv to the succours of the Pope with ten thousande footemen both Svvizzers and of his owne people who were payed with the forty thousande duckets allotted to the Frenche king besought the Duke of Vrbin that they might not be ledde ouer the ryuer beeing thereunto moued and induced by the perswasions of the sayde Duke By reason whereof the Duke sending him worde that he would conferre with him at Sovvzin deferred his comming so long that the Marquis went his way Wherein suche was eyther his negligence of the affayres or his tymerous condition that he did not onely all he could to make him to staye to th ende to beholde with better eye what the launceknightes would do but also he made manifest perswasions to him not to passe at all An occasion that somewhat stayed him in thexpedition as also that the payes of the Svvizzers were not ready who were payde after the rate of sixe thousande and were in trueth but foure thousande And albeit for that impediment he deferred to passe vntill the xxvij of December â–ª yet he sent abrode into diuerse places of the contrey the french horsemen with certayne bands of footmen to stoppe the passage of vittells to the launceknightes who had nowe remayned many dayes at Firenzola for that seruice also was sent Guido Vuine to the borowe of Saint Domin with an hundred light horsmen and Paule Lusasquo came out of Plaisanca with a good trowpe of horsemen and drew neare to Firenzola from which place one part of the launceknightes went to lodge at the borowe of Arquo for the more commoditie of vittells For feare of the sayde launceknightes Plaisanca had bene refurnished before but not with so sufficient forces as were thought conuenient for the defence of the place for that the Popes liftenaunt who had alwayes feared since the coÌ„ming of the launceknights least the difficulties to aduaunce their expeditions in Lombardy would not force thimperialls to passe into Tuskane wished that they would desire to go incampe before Plaisanca for which reason vnknowen to all men yea euen to the Pope himself he so deferred to furnishe Plaisanca that they might despayre to be hable to take it and yet he manned it and fortified it in suche sorte as they could not easily cary it leauing this hope that if they went thither he could not lacke meane to reskew it But by the long abode which the launceknights made in the places thereabout and the vniuersall exclamations of all men touching the daunger least that citie should be taken he was driuen to suffer Guido Rangon to goe thither with a great companie of souldiours like as also according to the direction of the Venetians who had promised to sende thither for garrison a thousande footemen to succour the Popes necessitie Nabbon de Naldo one of their capteines was dispatched thither with a regiment of a thousande footemen but because they were yll payde they were immediatly diminished to foure hundred At laste the Marquis of Salussa passed the ryuer who in true mooster and computation had not in his army aboue foure thousande Svvizzers and Grisons and three thousand footmen of his owne And being come to Pulesina notwithstanding he was desired not to depart from thence the better to vex the launceknightes who were at Firenzola whither Lusasquo made incursions many times euen vp to their lodgings yet for his better suretie he went vp to Torriâ—ella and Sissa But amidde these marchings and remouings of souldiours and regiments the launceknightes within two dayes after brake vp from Firenzola and went to Carpinetta and the places thereaboutes Neyther was it knowen what course the Duke of Burbon would take whether he would plant his campe before Plaisanca being come out of Millan or whether he would passe further in the expedition of Tuskane Afterwards the launceknightes passed the ryuer of Nuro the laste daye of the yere to thend to passe afterwards the ryuer of Trebbia and to tary for the Duke of Burbon in that place which was least subiect to thincursions of thenemie Thus the affayres of Lombardy proceeded in a slowe course not so muche for the season of the yeare which was sharpe and full of incommodities as for
Sienna and also to inuade them by sea to th ende that the duke of Burbon being intangled in Tuskane might be stopped for taking his way to Rome Of which expedition neuertheles he had euery day so much the lesse feare and doubt by how much more he hoped that both for the difficulties of the duke of Burbon to leade his army to Rome without vittels and money and for the cōmoditie of thestate of Sienna where at the least his souldiors would be refreshed he would be driuen to stay himselfe vpon thenterprise against the Florentins But the Duke of Burbon eyther for that hys firste counsell was otherwyse whiche he had secretly determined at Finalo by the authoritie of the duke of Ferrara and aduise of Ierome Moron or distrusting to driue to any good issue the enterprise of Florence for that the mayn forces of the league were assembled neare there for the defence of the citie and lastly being no longer able to enterteine the army without money which he had till that day caried through so many difficulties with promises hopes and now seing time had reduced him to this straite either to perish amid the murmures of his souldiors which could not but be miserable to a mā of his hart or els to hazard the fortune of battell in so great a weaknes and disorder wherein if there were anye certentye it was in the losse of the victory he determined to march with all diligence to surprise the towne of Rome where the rewardes of the victorie would be equall with the daunger of thaduenture and to themprour it would bring no lesse renowme and honor then to the souldiours a full satisfaction of their long and weary trauells He was pushed on to this enterprise by a hope which he felt to carye the towne seeing the Pope with an euill counsell had firste decassed the Svvizzers and afterwardes dismissed the blacke bandes and begon so slowely to refurnishe him selfe at suche tyme as the accord was desperate that it was thought he could not in good time assemble forces sufficient to defende his daungers And so the Duke of Burbon with whom nothing was more familiar then the enterprise of Rome departed the xxvj of Aprill from the countrey of Aretze with his armie no lesse speedy in marching then swift in hope his celeritie to march winne time tooke from him all care to cary artilleries or anye trayne or baggage of campe so well was he disposed to see executed the thing whiche in his heart he had determined or rather so violent was his destenie to call him to the ende of his life which he could now no longer prolong In so much as marching with this incredible diligēce neyther being hindred by the raynes which in those dayes fell in great abundance nor with the want of vittells which is no small impediment to all great actions he drewe neare to Rome at a time when the Pope was scarcely aduertised of his comming All the wayes where he passed were as free from resistance as his desire was farre from alteration and chaunge seeing he found no impediment neyther at Viterba whither the Pope had not sent strength in time nor in any other place apte to staye the resolution of the armie so well prepared to endomage him Nowe began the Pope to haue recourse to those remedies which if he had vsed in their due time and place might haue bene to speciall purpose to turne awaye so great storme and nowe founde he too late theffect and truth of the counselles of some wise men about him prophesying that he would deferre the ministration of those helpes vntill eyther his necessities were greater then his remedies or at leaste they woulde profite little beeing applyed out of due season Nowe did he create three Cardinalles for money which eyther could not be leauyed for the speedy importunitie of th affayres or else if he should receiue it the vse would be vnprofitable by reason of hys daungers that hastned on so faste He called together the people of Rome whome in great compassion he besought that in so great a hazarde of their countrey they would readely runne to armes to defende it wherein he disposed the bodies of the popular sort to protect their libertie and imposed vppon the rycher loanes of money to wage souldiours A taxation which ranne amongest the people with no authoritie seeing vppon the leauying of the impostes one Dominike Maximo of the greatest wealth amongst the Romains offred to lende but an hundred duckets for which couetousnes he bare a sharpe punishment for that his sonnes were made a pray to the souldiours and himselfe falling into the calamitie of a prisoner was rated at a huge raunsome to redeme his libertie But after they vnderstood at Florence the newes of the discamping of the duke of Burbon which beeing written by Vitelly lying then within Aretzo lingred a daye in comming more then ordinary The capteins determined that the count Guido Rangon with his horsmen with the trowpes of the count Caiezze together with a thousand footmen of Florence the Church should march spedely without baggage towards the towne of Rome and that the other part of the army should follow after They hoped that if the D. of Burbon drew with him hs artilleries that proportion of succours woulde be at Rome before him And if he marched with expedition it would aryue so soone after him that hauing no artilleries and the citie of Rome beeing furnished with six thousand footmen by the Popes reaport the towne would be hable to maynteine defence vntill the first succours were come which being aryued there could be no danger of the losing of Rome But the celeritie of the Duke of Burbon and the slow prouisions made at Rome preuented theffect of all those deuises for as Ranso de Cero to whom the Pope had recommended the principall charge of the defence of Rome had according to his short time leauyed very few footmen of seruice but gathered a great crewe of men ignorant and vntrained in warre whom he had drawne by force out of the stables of Cardinals and prelates and shoppes of artificers besides Innes and other domesticall places of the towne So he laboured to cast rampars in the suburbes such as in his iudgement were sufficient for defence though in the account of others they were farre to weake to holde out the daunger that was toward his confidence was such to defend them that he would not suffer for the safety of the towne to breake vp the bridge of Tyber in case the suburbes and quarter beyond Tyber coulde not be defended and in that humor of securitie holding for superfluous all other sortes of succours when he was aduertised of the comming of Count Guido he wrote letters to him in the Popes name by the Bishop of Verona that seeing the citie of Rome was furnished and fortified sufficiently he should only sende a proportion of six or eight hundred harquebuziers and for
Capteynes and by his armye Abowt this tyme the Cardinalls that were in Italy made a mocion that aswell they as the other Cardinalls beyonde the Mountes might assemble together at Auignion to take councell in so troublesom a tyme what coursse to holde for the stabilitie of the Church But because they woulde not all at one tyme raunge them selues vnder the power of so mightye Princes they refused to goe thether though with diuerse excuses By whose example also the Cardinall Saluiatio Legat in the Frenche Court beeing required by the Pope to goe to thEmprour to helpe his affayres at the comming of Don Hugo who according to the capitulacion was to go vp to thEmprour refused to accomplish that legacion as though it had beene a matter hurtfull to deliuer vppe to the power of thEmprour at one tyme so many Cardinalls Onely he sent by one of his seruaunts of credit thinstructions he had receyued from Rome to thAuditor of the chamber resident with thEmprour to th ende he might negociat with him who brought from him very gracious wordes but such as promised a diuerse and vncerteine resolucion And albeit thEmprour could haue desired that the Pope had beene ledde into Spayne yet for that it was a matter full of infamye and greatly tending to incense the king of England And withall for that all the Potentates and prouinces of Spayne and principally the Prelats and Lordes detested not a litle that an Emprour of Rome Protector and Aduocat of the Church should with so great indignitie to all Christendom holde in prison the man in whome was represented the person of Iesus Christ in earth In those regardes he made gracious aunswers to all thEmbassadors which occupied his presence there At whose instance also to goe thorowe with a peace he sayde he was content to referre the action of it to the king of England which was accepted by them And seeming to confirme this good inclinacion with corespondencye of effects he dispatched into Italy the thirde daye of August the generall of the Graye Frears and foure dayes after him Veri de Miglian enhabling both the one and other with commissions sufficient to the Viceroy for the deliuery of the Pope and restitucion of all such townes and castells as had bene taken from him he consented also for the better releeuing of the Pope that his Nuncio should send him a certeine summe of money exacted vppon the collection of his Realmes who in their Courts and parlyaments had refused to contribute money to thEmprour In this time about the ende of Iuly the Cardinall of Yorke passed the sea to Callyce with twelue hundred horse The French king who had great desire to receyue him with all showes of honor sent to meete him at his landing the Cardinal of Lorraine and went afterwardes in personne to Amyens where the Cardinall of Yorke made his entrey the daye after with very greate pompe Wherein one thinge that muche augmented his glorye and reputacion was the treasor he had brought with him amownting to three hundred thowsande crownes bothe to furnishe thexspenses occurringe and to imparte it with the Frenche Kinge by waye of loane if neede were They debated betwene them aswel of matters apperteyning to the peace as of occasions tending to nourish the warre Wherein albeit the ends and intencions of the French king were different from the purposes of the king of England for that to haue his children restored he cared not to leaue abandoned to manifest praye both the Pope and all the state of Italy yet what by the authoritie of the king of England and necessitie of his owne affayres he was driuen to promisse to make no accord with thEmprour without the deliuery of the Pope And therefore thEmprour hauing sent to the king of England the articles of the peace aunswer was made to him by both the kings that they woulde accept the peace vnder condicions of restitucion of the children of Fraunce receyuing for raunsom of them two millions of duckats within a certeine tyme and deliuerye of the Popes person with the state Ecclesiastike together with the conseruacion of all the gouernments and estates of Italy as they were at that present and lastly vnder condicion of an vniuersall and generall peace And bicause the mariage of the French king with the Emprours sister should still continue there was set downe a speciall couenant that thEmprour accepting these articles the Daughter of the king of England should be maryed to the Duke of Orleans But in case the peace succeeded not the king him selfe should take her to wife After these articles were sent they refused to giue safe conduit to a man whome the Emprour required to send into Fraunce aunswering that they had done enough to send him the articles of their resolucion Which being not accepted by thEmprour the peace and confederacion betweene the two kings was sworne and published solemnly the eyght day of August They determined to employ all their forces in the warre of Italy hauing for their principall obiect the deliuerye of the Pope And touching the manner to proceede in that warre they reapposed them selues vppon Monsr Lavvtrech to whome according to the confidence they had in him they gaue absolute power and before he tooke his leaue to depart with his expedicion they suffered him to obteyne of the French king all his demaundes for that the king ment in that warre to set vppe his last rest The Cardinall of Yorke would also that the knight Casalo shoulde goe to the campe on the behalfe of his king and that the thirty thowsande duckats which were his monthly contribucion should be deliuered to him to th ende to be assured if the nūber of Almaines were compleate Thus after the resolucions and directions of the warre were established the Cardinall of Yorke returned and at his departure he dispatched the pronotorye Gambaro to the Pope to induce him to make him his Viccaire generall in England in Fraunce and in Germanye so longe as he was in prison Whereunto though the French king seemed by demonstracions to consent yet secretly and in effect he did impugne so great an ambicion In this meane whyle there passed but very fewe actions and exploytes of warre in Italy thexspectacion of the comming of Lavvtrech being very great The reason was that as the Imperiall armye full of disorder and disobedience to their Capteynes and no lesse chargeable to their friendes and townes that were rendred made no greate mouing and gaue no feare at all to their enemyes so the footebandes of Spanyardes and Italyans fleeing from the infection of the plague laye dispearsed and wandring abowt the confynes of Rome And the Prince of Orenge with an hundred and fiftye horsemen was gonne vppe to Syenna aswell to eschewe the daunger of the plague as to keepe that citie in the deuocion of thEmperour And for the better conteyning the Citie in fidelitie and order he had sent thyther before certeyne bandes of footemen the rather for that
confederates a beginning of some contencion for as Monsr Lavvtrech layed his plot to leaue there in garrison fiue hundred footemen to th end that in all euentes his bandes and regimentes might haue a sure retraite there and also suche companies as shoulde come out of Fraunce might orderlie reassemble and refreshe them selues in that Citie So thEmbassador of the Duke of Millan who beganne to suspect least that beginning extended to vsurpe and occupie that state for his king opposed against it with protestacions and wordes full of efficacie Wherein thEmbassador of Venice concurring with him in that minde and the Englishe interposing in the action Monsr Lavvtrech at last agreed albeit with great indignacion to leaue it freely to the Duke of Millan A matter which happilie was of great preiudice for that enterprise for that according to thopinion of many he vsed a greater negligence in the conquest of Millan either through disdaine or else to reserue him selfe to doe it in a time when without the regard of others he might make his proffit of it But after the losse of Alexandria it was not doubted but Monsr Lavvtrech would conuert his forces either to Millan or to Pauia and therfore that Antho. de Leua who had there with him an hundred and fiftie men at armes and fiue thowsand and fiue thousand footemen Spanish and Lanceknightes distrusting to be able to defende Millan with so small forces and amid so many difficulties shoulde retyre his companies to Pauia neuertheles considering that Pauya gaue smalreliefe or store of vittels and lesse exspectation to mainteine the armie there with robberies extortions as hadde bene done rudely and iniuriously at Myllan he chaunged purpose and stayed at Myllan sending to the garde of Pauya Lodovvyke Belioyense and to the Myllanois who with money would buy libertie to depart he solde for corruption and gaine the thing that he could not lawfully giue But Monsr Lavvtrech notwithstanding he was much weakened in nombers of Svvizzers marched on and tooke Vigeuena and afterwardes making a bridge vpon the riuer of Thesin and by the ayde of the same past his armie ouer he drewe towards Benerolo which is a village within iiij miles of Myllan In this order of proceeding he made shew as though he would in campe before that Citie whereunto he was also counselled by the Venetians but in deede he was resolued to take that course which seemed most easie And because he vnderstoode when he was within eight miles of Myllan that Lodovvyke Belioyense had sent thyther the night before foure hundred footemen by which meane there remayned no more then eight hundred within Pauya He turned way and went the day folowing being the xxviij of September to the Monasterie of Charterhouse and from thence with great celeritie he went to incampe before Pauya To the succours or reskue of which Citie Anthonie de leua taking occasion vpon the alteration of Monsr Lavvtrech and chaunging his way dispatched thyther three ensignes of footemen who coulde not enter by which impediment together with the small nombers of men of warre that were there it seemed the Towne coulde make no great resistance And in that weakenes and feare notwithstanding they of the Towne besought Belioyense to make some composition to auoyde the sacke and destruction of the Citie yet herefused to graunt them that compassion But when he saw with what importunitie Lavvtrech continued his batterie by the space of foure dayes hauing reuersed so much of the wall that the small nomber of men that were within sufficed not to reenforce it The necessitie of the place ioyned to the complaintes of the townesmen compelled at last Belioyense to sende a trumpet to Lavvtrech who hauing no speedie accesse to him by reason that he was by chaunce gone to the Venetian campe The souldiers drawing neare the towne entred into it by the ruines of the wall which being a spectacle greeuous to Belioyense and no meane to remedie or resist it he set open the gates of the towne and issued out in his misfortune to yelde himselfe to the Frenchmen who sent him prisoner to Genes The Citie was sackt in which action the Frenchmen spent eight dayes in pillage and crueltie putting fire into diuers houses which intheir furie they consumed in reuenge of the battel which they lost within the parke Then they drewe to counsel whether they shoulde execute the enterprise of Myllan or addresse their forces to Rome The Florentines made instance to passe further for feare least Lavvtrech staying in Lombardie the imperiall armie issued not out of Rome to distresse them The Venetians and Duke of Myllan who was expresly come from Myllan impugned it alleaging what great opportunitie there was to take Myllan and the profite that would rise by it for the enterprise of Naples for that as Myllan being taken there remayned no hope to thimperials to haue succours out of Germanie so that gate being layde open it was to be alwayes feared that a great armie comming from that part woulde not eyther put Lavvtrech in daunger or at least diuert him from the enterprise of Naples But he aunswered that he must necessarily passe further by the commaundementes of his king and the king of Englande who had sent him into Italie chiefelie to deliuer the Pope To which resolucion it was beleued he might be induced by suspicion that if the Duchie of Millan were got the Venetians thinking them selues assured from all daunger of the greatnesse of thEmperour would not be negligent to ayde the king in the enterprise of the realme of Naples And happily he was no lesse induced by this that the king supposed it would be for the benefitte and proffit of his affaires not to suffer Frauncis Sforce to recouer whollie that state to th ende that reteyning the power to offer to the Emperour to leaue it he might the easelier obteyne the deliueraunce of his children by way of thaccorde which continuallie was negociated with thEmperour by thEmbassadors of Fraunce Englande and Venice But in the negociacion of the same appeared many difficulties for that thEmperour made instance that the cause of Frauncis Sforce should be referred to the sentence of the lawe and that during the triall thestate of Millan to be holden by him promising in all accidentes not to appropriat it to him selfe He required that the Venetians shoulde pay to thArchduke the residue of the two hundred thowsande duckats which were due to him by the capitulacions of VVormes which the Venetian Embassador refused not so farre foorth as thArchduke woulde accomplishe the sayd capitulacions and render such places as he was bound by the obligacions of the same he demaunded of the sayd Venetians to giue to their exiles according to couenaunt an hundred thowsande duckats or at least assignacion for fiue thowsande duckats of reuenue That they should pay that which they ought him for the cōfederacion made with him which he wished might be renued That they shoulde render Rauenna to the Church and
assembled at Parma And the Duke beeing not a litle moued to see Lavvtrech aduaunce after he had laboured to insinuate his reasons and make them seeme good to Capteine George and Andrevv de Burgo these were within Ferrara and greatly honoured and entertoyned by him he lefte them satisfied of the necessitie that compelled him to compound And at last he accorded but with conditions well showing eyther his industrie knowledge howe to negociate that it was not in vayne that he sought to draw the action into his presence or else by the conditions were well declared the great desire the other partie had to draw him into the confederation Wherin he entred with obligation to pay monthly for the space of sixe moneths six or ten thousand crownes according to the arbitration of the french king who resolued afterwards vpon six thousand with bond to deliuer to Monsr Lavvtrech a company of an hundred men at armes payed On the other side the confederates bound themselues to the protection of him his estate To deliuer to him Cotignolo which a litle before the Venetians had taken from the Spaniards in exchange of the auncient and almost desolate citie of Adria which he demaunded with great importunity To render vnto him the pallaces which before time he had possessed in Venice in Florence To giue him suffrance to winne vpon Albert Pio the castell de Nouy standing vpon the confines of Mantua which he helde besieged at the same time That they would pay the frutes of the Archbishoprike of Millan to his sonne who was Archbishop there if the imperials gaue no impedimēt to him to receiue them The Cardinall Cibo in the name of those Cardinalls who promised the ratification of the College bound the Pope to renew thinuestiture of Ferrara To renounce the rights of Modena in regard of the purchase he had made of it with Maximilian To cancell the obligations for the saltes To consent to the protection which the confederates tooke of him and his To promise by Buls Apostolike to suffer aswell him as his successors to possesse all that they nowe enioyed and that the Pope should create his sonne Cardinall and bestow vpon him the Bishoprike of Modena vacant by the death of the Cardinall Rangon To this consederation was added that Renea the daughter of king Lovvis should be giuen in mariage to Hercules his eldest sonne to indue the mariage with the duchy of Chartres and other honorable conditions By the example of the duke of Ferrara concurring also the instance solicitation of Monsr Lavvtrech the Marquis of Mantua entred into the league notwithstanding he had put himselfe before into the pay of themprour But at this time the confederate armie was very weake and laye many dayes without doing any thing betweene Fuglino Montfalcon and Beuaguo And the duke of Vrbin who had aduertisement of the restrayning of his wife and children at Venice being departed from the army agaynst the commission of the Senate to iustifie his cause was tolde by the way that they were deliuered and that the Senate beeing well satisfied of his gouernment desyred him to passe further by reason of which aduertisement he returned to the army In whiche the Svvizzers and the footbands of the Marquis were not payed Neither did the Venetians eyther there or in Lombardy where they were bound to mainteine nine thousand footmen aduance the third part By which negligence accompanied with an vniuersall sparing of exspences the army was decliued to great debilitie in which weaknes they retired afterwards to the territory of Lody the confines therabout And the Spaniards vpon the end of Nouember were gone vp towards Corncto and Toscanello and the launceknights remained at Rome to whom the prince of Orenge was returned from Sienna where he had made but small abode for that he saw he could not be apt to reorder that gouernment as he thought he could haue done Assuredly it was not to be douted that if themprours army had aduaunced the duke of Vrbin and the Marquis of Salusse had not retired with their forces to the walls of Florence notwithstāding they had made many vauntes that to stoppe them from entring into Tuskane they would plant a campe eyther within Orbietto or Viterba or els vpon the territorie of Sienna towards Chiusa and Sertiano But Monsr Lavvtrech notwithstanding the bandes of launceknightes were ariued proceding for thexspectation of the issue of the peace so slowly as he was wont made his abode within Parma where albeit he had reduced into his power the castells of that citie and had leauyed vpon that towne and Plaisanca and their territories about fiftie thousande duckets yet it was beleued that he had an intention not onely to subdue to his deuotion and power Parma and Plaisanca but also to thend to draw Bolognia to depend vpon the authoritie of his king he had impression to conuert the iurisdiction of that citie into the famuly of the Pepolies But those deuises sorted to no effect by reason of the Popes deliuery To the which albeit it seemed at the first that themprour was not to condiscend readily for since the newes of his calamitie he had temporised one whole moneth before he would resolue yet both vnderstanding that Lavvtrech was passed into Italy and also not ignorant of the king of Englands readines to the warre he had dispatched into Italy the Generall of the grayfreers and Verio de Migliato with commission to the Viceroy to debate that action But the Generall finding the Viceroy dead before he ariued at Caietto he was then to transfer the negociatiō of those affayres to Don Hugo de Moncado to whom as themprours cōmission did also extend so the Viceroy had orderly substituted him in his place vntil themprour should send some new addresse for the gouernment of the realme And after the General had communicated with Don Hugo he went to Rome accōpanied with Migliato who was come out of Spayne with the like cōmissions This busines negociation conteined two principal articles the one that the Pope should satisfie the army to whom was owing a very great summe of mony And the other that the Pope being deliuered should not be adherent to his enemies To which two articles were tyed hard conditions of ostages townes for assurance Which difficulties as they drew a long tract and delay in the general matter so to make the issue easy the Pope failed not by secret meanes to solicit cōtinually Monsr Lavvtrech to aduāce assuring him that as his intentiō was to promise nothing to thimperials but by force so also in that case being once out of prison he would obserue nothing so soone as his person were once transferred into a place of suretie whiche he forgat not to bring to passe in giuing to them the least oportunities he could But in case he did accorde he besought him that the compassion of his aduersities and necessities might serue him for excuse But
giue occasion to thenemies to make head at Sienna or in any other place hauing a speciall desire to make his entrye into the kingdome of Naples before he should encounter any impediment And assone as he was departed from Bolognia Iohn Sassatello rendred to the Pope the rocke of Ymola of which he had made himselfe lorde in the time of his imprisonment And drawing neare afterwards to Rimini Sigismond Malatesta sonne to Pandolffo contracted with him to giue vp that Citie to the Pope vpon condition that he should be bound to suffer his mother to enioy her dowry to giue to his sister who was not maryed sixe thousande duckets and to assigne for his father and for him two thousand duckets of reuenue That Sigismond should depard immediatly out of Rimini and his father to remayne there vntill the Pope had sent the ratification And that in the meane while the rocke should abide in the handes of Guido Rangon his cousin who being in the pay of the French king followed Monsr Lavvtrech to the warre But the Pope deferring to accomplishe these promises Sigismond repossessed and occupied agayne the rocke though not without a great complaynt of the Pope agaynst Guido Rangon as though he had secretly suffred him and not without suspicion that Lavvtrech and the Venetians had consented seeming they had desired to kepe him in continuall difficulties The suspicion of the Venetians grewe vpon the cause of Rauenna which the Pope assone as he was deliuered out of the Castell hauing sent to sommon and demaunde it of the Senate by the Archbishop of Siponto he was aunswered with words generall referring the matter to the arbitration of Iasper Contarin Embassadour elect resident with him for notwithstanding they had giuen assurance before that they reteyned it for the sea Apostolike yet they had no desire to restore it Wherein they were moued aswell by interests publike as priuate for the commoditie of that Citie to augment their iurisdiction in Romagnia fertill of it selfe in grayne and for the plentie of the countreys adioyning of great oportunitie to draw to Venice euery yere good quantities of corne Besides many of the citie of Venice had in that territorie great and goodly possessions And touching Monsr Lavvtrech the Pope doubted no lesse of him for that besides many instances which had bin made to him before Lavvtrech notwithstanding he had sent to him after he was come from Bolognia Monsr Vavvdemont capteine generall of the Launceknightes together with Monsr Longeuille whome the king sente to solicite him earnestlye to declare agaynst thEmperour could not obteine so muche of him the Pope not refusing expresly but vnder delayes and excuses And in that cunning he had offred to the french king to giue his consent but vnder this condition that the Venetians should render to him Rauenna A condition which he knew could not take effect both for that it behoued not the Venetians to be induced to it by the kings perswasions neither was it agreable to the time that the king should make them his enemies to satisfie the Pope Moreouer he gaue no inclination to thinstance which Lavvtrech made to him to ratifie the accorde made with the Duke of Ferrara alleaging that it was a matter farre vnworthye of him to approue in his life time conditions made in his name whylest he was dead and yet he alleaged that he woulde not refuse to contracte with him By reason whereof the duke of Ferrara taking that occasion made difficultie notwithstanding the king and the Venetians had receyued him into their protection to sende to Monsr Lavvtrech the hundred men at armes and the money which he had promised Wherin he stoode vpon this obseruation that doubting the issue of affayres he would not be so much for the French king as not to reserue place and meane to appease in all euentes the minde of themprour to whom he had excused himselfe by his necessitie Besides he enterteined cōtinually at Ferrara George Fronspergh and Andrevv de Burgo Neuerthelesse the armie for all this ceassed not to aduaunce which vnder the leading of Monsr de Lavvtrech aryued the tenth of February vpon the ryuer of Tronto which seperateth the estate ecclesiastike from the kingdome of Naples But in Fraunce after aduertisement was brought that themprour had reteined the kings Embassadour by his example the king caused themprours Agentes to be restrayned within the Castell of Paris and all Marchantes subiects to him to be stayed throughout all the regions of Fraunce The king of Englande did the like by themprours Embassadour resident with him whom he eftsones redeliuered after he was made to vnderstande that no restraynt was made vpon his And as the warre was nowe published in Fraunce in Englande and in Spayne so the French king stoode vppon this request that the first action might begin ioyntly in Flaunders in which resolution he sent certayne bands of souldiours to make incursions into that contrey Neuertheles the Flemings for all those prouocations made no emotion nor rising vnlesse to defende them selues for that the Lady Margaret of Austria laboring to auoyde all occasions to enter warre with the French king would not suffer her people to issue out of their boundes and confines But it was a matter grieuous to the king of Englande to haue warre with the people of Flaunders for that notwithstanding there were to be confined to him assone as they should be conquered certaine townes promised before by themprour for assurance of the mony he had lent him yet he helde it also a matter no lesse preiudiciall aswell for his particular reuenues as for the generall interest and benefite of his realme to breake the trade and entercourse of his Marchantes with those prouinces Neuerthelesse according to thobligations of the contract as he could not apparantly refuse it so yet he temporised deferred it asmuch as he could taking thaduauntage of the capitulacions by the which it was lawfull for him to linger fortie daies after sommonce made to th ende to giue time to the marchants to retire themselues This excuse of his and inclinacion being both well knowen approued by the french king he solicited him that in place to make warre in Flaunders he would with an armie by sea inuade the sea coastes of Spayne where he assured him he had right good intelligence By which alteracion of councells it hapned at last that as the king sending to the french king a bishop to perswade him to giue ouer thenterprise of beyonde the mountes and to encrease and make stronge the warre of Italy so by his perswasions and his authoritie there was an order established that for the space of eight monethes next ensuing there should be done no vexacions nor harmes by the french and english vppon the contreys of Flaunders nor any of the estates or subiects of themprour confyning vpon those prouinces Wherein for the more easie induction of the french king to condiscend to this order the king of England was bound
to the addresse that was giuen him passed on and in one day entred within Nocero and in an other he gat into Foggio making his entry at one gate when the Spanyards who were retyred to Troya Barletta Manfredonia would haue entred by the other The conquest of these places serued greatly for the reuitteling of the army The army that was with Monsr Lavvtrech conteyned in the whole foure hundred launces and twelue thowsand footemen men not very well prepared and trayned for the warre But there were to ioyne to him the Marquis of Salusso who marched before all the others The regiments of the Venetians and the blacke bands of the Florentyns whome Lavvtrech desired not a litle to ioyne with him for that bearing a name to be a Colonie of footemen as apt and resolute for assaults as any infanterie that then was in Italy they serued as good examples and whetters on of the residue of his armye wherein were bodyes stronge and stable for the fight But when he vnderstoode by the reapport of Peter Nauare whome he sent to take the view that there were within Troya and the consynes about it fiue thowsand Almains fiue thowsand Spanyards and fiueteene thowsand Italyans And that for the bitternes of the cold that then was he was not able to keepe the field Monsr Lavvtrech the eyght of Marche went to Nocero with all the footemen and light horsemen And the Marquis of Salusso newely arriued put into Foggia with the men at armes and a thowsand footemen Vppon which dispersing of the armye Monsr Lavvtrech gaue it out that he would giue battell if occasion offred aswell for many reasons generally mouing as chiefly for that the assignacions which the king had giuen to him being withdrawen and diminished he was not able long time to susteine the exspenses of the warre he left within Saint Seuero with a slender gard all thEmbassadors and other natures of people that were not apt for the warre And so he seemed to be there in sewertie without any necessitie or compulsion to giue battell but vppon aduauntage neither had he want of vittells though he lacked meale Afterwards he yssued out the xij of Marche and tooke the field three myles beyond Nocero and within fiue myles of Troya for Nocero Barletta which are distant one from another xij miles are not further from Troya then eight miles The Imperials who had now assembled together all the companies that were within Manfredonia and Barletta had plenty of vittells within Troya yssued out to skirmish though all the bands of footemen except the launceknights were not payed And the day following they tooke the field without artilleries in a strong place vppon the hill of Troya But Lavvtrech the xiiij day inuironed that hil on the part aboue that loketh to the South drawing towards the Mounteine And turning his face to Troya he began to ascend where after he had wonne the hill in a hoat skirmishe he incamped in a place that commaunded them from whence he compelled them with his artilleries to retyre some into the towne and some backe againe So that both the towne of Troya and the Imperiall army remeyned betwene the french army and Saint Seuero which both made vneasie the passage of succours that might haue comen to Naples and also stopped for the most part the vittells that might haue bene brought to them Notwithstanding they consumed not much as being discharged of all vnprofitable mouthes and the generall baggage and traine of the armye And on the other side was stopped by them the trafficke of vittells that passed from Saint Seuero to the French campe besides that they helde in daunger Saint Seuero which they might assauk with parte of their people and the French not to perceiue it The armies lying incamped in this sort that is to say the french men beyond Troya towards the mounteine And the Imperials on this side towards Nocero at the backe of the towne And the most part of the places thereabouts being cōmaunded by the french They remeined therein that order vntil the xix day al the nights being spent in alarmes the daies rōning out in skirmishes in one of which was taken prisoner Martio Colonno The Imperials oftentimes cut of the vittels that went from Saint Seuero Foggia to the french armye which for that impediment felt some incommoditie had neede of a strong eskort or cōduit to defend the vittellers Here the Imperialists drew into councel what was to be done Amongst whom the Marquis of Guast perswaded to offer the battel seing the french army went on increasing daily theirs was more more weakned But the councell of capteine Alerson caried most authoritie who proued by reasons argumēts that there was more hope of the victory in temporising suffring the time then by aduaūcing to referre things to the arbitracion of fortune The xix daye thImperialls retyred within Troya to eschewe the continual vexacions of thartilleries of thennemies But hauing afterwards rampared their place against the furie of the shot they repayred thether againe in good season and returned in yll time within Troya But the xxj daye at the appearing of the morning they brake vp and went towardes the mounteine to Ariano making a great dayes marche They found within Troya a great quantitie of vittells farre surmounting that which the French men beleued before And hauing cut of all passages by the which vittells might be brought to them they made to them selues a vaine promisse of the victorie it was then they leauied and brake vp eyther to draw the French into a place where they might find want of vittells or for an intelligence they had that the day following they exspected in their campe the blacke bands Who as they marched beeing lodged in Aquila had in their insolencie sacked that citie not being prouoked by iniurie or other occasion The xxij day Lavvtrech incamped at Lyonessa vppon the riuer of Ofanto which the Latyns call Aufidium six miles from Ascoly hauing sent the blacke bands and Peter Nauare with his regiments and two Cannons to take Melffo Where after they had battred a small breach the Gascoins presented them selues to the wall and the black bands with more furie then good direction of their Capteines did the like Wherein the one nation seruing with an emulacion of the other and they both being well beaten in flanke by small shot the assalt was repulsed with the death of many Gascoins and three skore of the blacke bands And the same furie continuing they ranne the like fortune the next day in an other assalt which they gaue after the battery had executed But in the night there came to the campe a succour of artilleries sent by Monsr Lavvtrech with the which hauing made two great battries the morning following the paysants within Melffa began in their feare to draw into tumult by which accident the souldiers being in number six hundred troubled in their ordinary
myles beyonde with the Launceknightes And after he had taken the Rocke of Olgina standing vpon the shores of Adda which capteine Mus had taken before he sent Phillip Toruiello with the bands of footemen Spanish Italians to giue succours to Lecqua standing vpon the other shore of the lake where capteine Mus with the ayde of the souldiors whom he had drawne from the Venetians and Duke of Millan and with certayne peeces of artilleries from the Venetian campe had taken and fortified all the passages of themselues conteining many difficulties for the steepenes of the mountaynes and other places of hard accesse But thimperialls who tooke the mountayne opposite that commaundeth Lecqua after they had made many vayne attemptes to passe in many places at laste they forced that place where the Venetian souldiours garded Companies whom the Capteine eyther for that he had lesse confidence in their vertue or at least to bestow them where was least daunger had dispersed into places moste stepe inaccessible Capteine Mus with his souldiors and artilleries was eftsones remounted vpon the barkes and saued himselfe not without suspicion that the Venetians had made a light defence to gratifie the duke of Millan to whom it was nothing agreable that he tooke Lecqua And afterwards to th ende to cary by accorde that which he could not winne by armes he changed both the seruice pay wherin he was and goeth to thimperials obteining of Anth. de Leua by way of accord for reward of that infidelity both Lecqua and many other places And he got of Ierome Moron who by letters intelligence had bin the author of this practise cession of his rights By reason of this accord Anth. de Leua who before had bin much afflicted by hunger was releeued both with vittells money for the capteine who aspiring to high and great things tooke afterwardes vppon him the title of Marquis payed thirtie thousand duckets and sent into Millan three thousand sackes of corne During all this while Monsr Lavvtrech marched towardes Naples and by the thirde daye of Aprill was come to the Rocke Manarda hauing lefte for the garde of Povvilla where onely Manfredonia held for themprour fiftie men at armes two hundred light horsemen and xv hundred or two thousand footmen all bands of the Venetians But the imperials who had resoâ—ued in abandoning al the countrey thereabout to laye onely for the defence of Naples and Caietta and to cutte off vittelles from thennemies after they had sackt Nola and caryed to Naples all the vittelles that were within Capua they incamped vppon the hill of Saint Martin and the daye following entred within Naples with tenne thousande footemen Spanish and Launceknightes hauing decassed the bandes of the Italians except sixe hundred who were vnder Fabricio Maramo for that Sero Colonno was gone to Abruzza with his bandes of footemen Naples was very naked of inhabitantes for that almoste all men of qualitie and suche to whom their fortune had yet lefte any meane were retyred into Ischia Capria and other Ilands confining It was supposed that there was within the towne sufficient prouision of corne for more then two monethes but for fleshe and other natures of vittelles the quantities were very small Capua Nola Acero Auersa and all the places thereabout yeelded to Monsr Lavvtrech who remayned foure dayes with his army in the Abbey of Acero whiche is seuen myles from Naples He had aduaunced and did still marche with a verye slowe pase to thend to tary for the vittells which could not obserue the speede of the armie for thimpediment of fowle wayes and raynes suche as had made all the countrey full of waters Besides it behoued him to make great prouisions of vittels for that the brute ranne that his armie according to the corruption of the discipline of warre at this daye conteyned more then twentie thousand horsemen and fourescore thousande footemen of whom two partes were men vnprofitable for seruice From this place he sent out to the enterprise of Calabria Simon Roman with an hundred and fiftie light horsemen and fiue hundred Corsegnans not payed but were come from the campe of thimperialls And Phillip Dore who with eyght gallies of Andre Dore and two shippes was come into the waters of Naples bothe tooke a shippe laden with grayne and with his artilleries draue the Imperialls from Magdelaine And albeit with the same vallour and fortune he tooke a little afterwards two other shippes loaden with grayne and brought vppon thennemies many other discommodities yet his gallies onely were not sufficient to holde the port of Naples wholly besieged for the helpe whereof Lavvtrech solicited that the sixteene gallies of the Venetians mighte be ioyned with the fleete of Phillip These after they were with slowe diligence assembled in order at Corfu were nowe come vp to the port of Trany But notwithstanding the Cities of Trany and Monopoly were alreadye rendred to the Venetians yet those gallies preferring their particular profites before forreine interestes though they knewe that all things depended vppon the victorie of Naples yet they were slowe to aduaunce to thend to take also Pulignano Ottronto and Brunduso The seuententh daye of Aprill Lavvtrech incamped at Cauiano within fiue myles of Naples And the same daye the light horsemen of thimperialls whose celeritie and diligence appeared farre greater then the negligence of the Frenchmen tooke from the French a great quantitie of vittells a prouision which they were not well furnished of They had also fortified Saint Hermo whiche is in the toppe of the mount Saint Martin and commaundes muche the towne of Naples to thend to take from the French men all commodities to vex it with their artilleries And for that they were maisters of that mountayne they gaue impedimeÌ„t to the French to approche neare the moste partes of the Citie The Frenche men tooke some hope of good euent by the discordes that were amongest thennemies of whom the Marquis of Guast for some particular quarrell hurt the Count Potensa and slewe his sonne But the xxj daye the Frenche army came to Casoria within three myles of Naples vppon the waye of Auersa And the same daye was embrased of both parties a skirmish vnder the walles of Naples wherein was slayne Migliato he who had impugned by all his industrie the deliuery of the Pope for the whiche he was the bearer of the Emprours Commission to his Capteines The xxij daye the armie incamped within a myle and an halfe of Naples where Monsr Lavvtrech forbad his souldiours to skirmish as a matter vnprofitable to the estate of the seruice There was Pozzolo rendred to him At last beeing the last but one of Aprill he brought his armie very neare the Citie of Naples and in camped betwene Poggio Royall which is a stately house for pleasure and buylded by Alfonso of Aragon the seconde when he was Duke of Calabria and the hill of Saint Martin The campe was extended euen within halfe a myle of Naples and
execute thenterprise of Biagrassa Mortaro and the castell of Nouaro But when the inhabitants of Sauona saw that MontiIan could not enter for their succors they agreed amyd so many distresses to render the towne the xxj of October if within certeine dayes they were not reskewed And therefore Saint Pol who was carefull to releeue it and not hauing of his owne companies aboue a thowsand footemen strong required a supply of three thowsand footemen of the Duke of Vrbyn Myllan who furnished him but with xij hundred Insomuch as hauing no assurance to be able to reskew it with so small a number he suffred it to be lost And after the Genovvaies had it they châ—aked the hauen with stones for that they would make it vâ— profitable to seruice And by the example of that aduersitie Theoder Tâ—y 〈…〉 dispayring to besuccored and being without money and comfort gaue him self vp to composicion Assoone as the castel was conquered it was in a popular fury rased by the Genevvaies who with the authority of Andre Dore established in that citie a newe gouernment such as had bene affore time solicited vnder the name of libertie This was the substance of it That by the councell of foure hundred citysens should be created all the magistrates and dignities of their citie but chiefely the Duke and supreame Magistrat to continue for two yeares They abrogated the lawe by the which the gentlemen were excluded before out of that creacion And seeing the fundacion and ground of greatest importance rested in this to establishe their libertie that they should presently labour to reconcile the factions and diuisions of the Citysens which of long time had bene there more greate and hurtefull then in any other citie of Italye seeing besides contencions priuate there had raged for longe time the factions of Guelffes and Gebelins To deface themulacion betwene the gentlemen and populars which populars were not yet reduced to one vnitie of will amongest themselues And lastely to reappease the mightie and stronge partialitie and controuersie betweene the two famulies of Adorney and Fregosey By reason of which diuisions it was likely that their citie most conuenient to commaunde the Sea aswell for the situacion as for the science and knowledge of marine matters had not bene onely at seuerall seasons vexed and depressed but also for longe time had bene kept vnder a crosse of continuall subiection Therefore to cure that euill euen to the roote they proceeded by obscuring the names of all the famulies and houses of the citie conseruing and reteining onely the memorie and name of xxviij of the most noble and notable except the Adorneys and Fregoseis which they vtterly suppressed and abolished vnder the name and nomber of which famulies they gathered all those gentlemen and populars who remeined without name of their houses wherein the better to confound the memory of all factions they sought to intangle and intermedle the famulies of the gentlemeÌ„ with the houses of the populars reciprocally the names of the populars whith the gentlemen Such as had bene parteners with the Adorneys they coopled with those that had folowed the name of the Fregosey so of the contrary establishing vnder that commixtion of houses and names an equall affinitie betwene both And as by this lawe it was ordeined that there should be no distinctioÌ„ of power to hinder the one more then the other to aspire to honours and magistracies so by this confusion of names and men they hoped that within the course of a few yeares the poisoned memorie of factions and quarrells would be vtterly defaced queÌ„ched And in the meane while thauthoritie of Andre Dore remeined great amongest them without whose consent and priuitie both for the reputacion of the man and for the authoritie of themprours gallies which he commaunded and for his other condicions parts they would not passe any deliberacioÌ„ of things which were of greatest importance only the thing which made his puissance and greatnes lesse troublesome was that he would neither suffer the treasor to be administred with his ordenance nor intrude himselfe into thelection of the duke and other magistrats much lesse communicat in causes more particular lesse By which maner of behauiour the citysens being reduced to mindes peasible became more inclined to marchandize then to ambicion reteining still impressions of their trauells and subiections passed they had greatreason to loue folow that forme of gouernment After this the french fleete and the nauie of Andre Dore buckled together betwene Monaro and Nice where one of Dores gallies was sonke After the losse of Sauona the Duke of Vrbyn and Monsr saint Pol mette together of new at Seuaro betwene Alexandria and Pauya where the Duke of Vrbyn to the greate discontentment of Frauncis Sforce and Monsr saint Pol resolued to repasse on the other side the riuer of Adda both leauing to the Duke of Myllan the garde of Pauya and councelling Monsr saint Pol to spende the winter in Alexandria with which alteracions the french kinges officers were not onely discontented but also himselfe not taking for payment certeine light excuses which the Venetians made to him complained bitterly that they had not succoured the castell of Genes and the citie of Sauona which the Genovvayes in their rage had vtterly deformed After this a supplie of a thowsand Launceknights were sent to Saint Pol with whom accompting the thowsand footemen which Villecero had in Lomelyno remained a strength of foure thowsand footemen In this time hapned a tumult in the Marquisedom of Salussa The accident was this After the death of the Marquis Michaell Anthonie Frauncis his brother hauing taken vpon him the iurisdiction by reason that Gabriel the second brother to Anthonie euen in the time of his eldest brother by direction of the mother who had managed the gouernment of the children during their minoritie had bene kept prisoner in the rocke of Rauel vnder cooller that he was almost estraunged from his vnderstanding it hapned that the capteine of the Rocke deliuered him by which meane seazing vppon the mother who had holden him prisoner and being gladsomely embrased of the people he conquered the whole estate To which felicitie of the time it seamed his brother gaue place and fledde in his feare to Carmagnola where hauing afterwardes reassembled his forces he ouerthrew his brother Gabriel There passed no more actions of consequency in Lombardie for this yeare sauing that Count Caiezza ranne vppe euen as farre as Myllan taking aduauntage vpon the negligence of the Venetians who omitted to sende to Monsr saint Pol the forces they had promised for the enterprise of Sarauallo Gauy and other places of the Genovvays There was also made an attempt of an exploit of greate importance for Monti Ian and Vecellero with two thowsand footemen and fiftie horsemen departed in the euening to Vitado to surprise Andre Dore in his pallacie the which standing vpoÌ„ the Sea coast reteineth a verie neare
action of entring into league with the french king vpon the wil and inclination of the Pope who then commaunded them and vpon the law of necessitie which had hithervnto compelled them to continue in it They sayd they could not passe further for that they were not enhabled by commission only they had expresse commaundement from their common wealth not to open their eares to any practise with the Pope and to visite his other Embassadours but not the Cardinall Medicis The great Chauncellor newly called to the dignity of Cardinall made them aunswere that it was necessary they should satisfie the Pope and reduce him contented both of their doings and of their meanings And they complayning of the iniustice of that demaund he eftsones replied that seeing their Citie was confederate with thenemies of themprour and had sent out armed bandes agaynst him that it was falne from her priuileages and diuolued to thempire and therefore it was in themprour to dispose of it according to hys owne arbitration But at last it was sayde vnto them on themprours behalfe that they should procure to be sent to them sufficient commission to compounde with the Pope and that afterwardes shoulde be considered the differences that were betwene the Pope and them which if they were not first resolued and compounded themprour would not common with them of their proper interests Whereuppon thestate of Florence dispatched a commission very large and ample to compounde with the Emprour but not to accord with the Pope In so much as themprour departing from Genes the xxx of August and went vp to Plaisanca the Embassadours following his Court were not admitted into Plaisanca for that is was vnderstanded that their commission was not such as themprour had demaunded By which meane all things suspended and remayned without accord Themprour caused also to depart from his Court thembassadors of the duke of Ferrara whom he receiued with hard tearmes and yet returning afterwardes with new conditions and happly with new fauors they were admitted and heard Moreouer the emprour sent embassador to the french king the Count Nausavv to congratulate with him the newe accorde confirmed with the knot of parentage and to receiue the ratification In recoÌ„pense of which embassage and for the same expedition the king sent to him thadmirall of Fraunce The king sent money to Ranso de Cero to th end that with all his companies he might retyre from Povvilla and caused to be rigged twelue gallies to be sent thither vnder Phillip Dore agaynst the Venetians agaynst whom themprour sent out Andre Dore with xxxvij gallies Neuertheles the king iudging that the recouering of his children would be more certayne if there remayned any difficultie in Italy to themprour he continued to giue diuerse hopes to the confederates and promised particularly to the Florentins to sende money to them secretly by thadmirall Not that he had any desire to minister to the wantes of them or the others but to th end they should shew themselues more hard and seuere to compound with themprour During all this while there was solicited a continuall practise of accord betwene themprour and the Duke of Millan the action wherof was managed wholly by the Pronotory Caraccioll whose office was to come and go from Cremona to Plaisanca But where themprour helde it straunge that the Duke reapposed lesse confidence in him then he looked for and the Duke on the other side was hardly brought to trust him at all there was an ouerture and motion made that tyll the Dukes cause were throughly examined Alexandria and Pauia should be deposed of trust into the Popes handes To this thEmprour would not consent bothe for that he thought the Duke was not hable to resiste his forces and also for that Anthony de Leua was gone vp to Plaisanca who beeing alwayes an enemie to peace and quietnes had incensed themprour with many reasons to pursue the warre And therefore themprour charged him to goe on with thenterprise of Pauia hauing a deuise also that at the same tyme Capteine Felix who was come with the new supplies of Almains aswell footemen as horsemen and with artilleries and had first passed by Pesquiero and afterwards was entred vpon the lands of Bressia should make warre on that side vpon the Venetians of which expedition he had made Capteine generall the Marquis of Mantua newly returned to the deuotion of the Imperialls All this whyle the Pope was not ydle to labour a peace betwene themprour and the Venetians with hope to conclude it at his coÌ„ming to Bolognia for that where he had before solicited to meete themprour and confer with him at Genes they had sithence by coÌ„mon consent referred the place of their enteruiew to Bolognia chiefly for many apt coÌ„modities which that city yelded to so great an assembly They were not induced being Princes of the greatest importance to meete together by a common desire only to confirme the league of their new amitie and coniunction but also they had to cary them their further seuerall respects themprour pushed on by necessitie being determined to take the Crowne of the Empire the Pope by ambition hauing a desire to aduance the enterprise of Florence and in theÌ„ both indifferently did concur a ioynt deuotion to establish some orderly forme ouer the affaires of Italy a matter which they could not accomplish without resoluing the affaires of the Venetians duke of Millan and without keping some good hande vpon the imminent dangers of the Turke who being entred into Hungria with a puissant army came on to inuade Austria take Vienna In this time were done no actions of consequence betwene thempror Venetians for that the Venetians hauing an absolute inclination to accord with him because they would not incense him further had giuen order to retyre their army by sea froÌ„ thenterprise of the castell of Brundusa to Corâ—â—u And seking only to preserue the townes which they helde they forbare also for that time all exploytes in the regions of Lombardy except certen light rodes and incursions and so being only carefull for the gard of their townes they had put into Bressia the duke of Vrbin Touching the Almains they were reduced to Lunaro conteining a nuÌ„ber of a thousand horsmen eight or ten thousand footmen They had resolued together with the Marquis of Mantua to execute thenterprise of Cremona where was the duke of Millan who seeing himselfe excluded from all accorde with thempror that Anth. de Leua was gone to incampe before Pauia Caracciol gone vp to Cremona to denounce warre to him coÌ„tracted with the Venetians to conclude no accord with thempror without their consent and in recompence of that coÌ„tract they bound theÌ„selues to minister to him for the defence of his estates a regiment of 2000. footmen payed with contribution of 8000. duckets for euery moneth They sent also artilleries men to Cremona with which proportioÌ„ of succors promises the duke had confidence to be able to
defend Cremona Loda For touching Pauia it made a very slender resistance agaynst Anth. de Leua not only for that it conteined not sufficient vittels for two moneths but also because capteine Pissinard to whom it was cōmitted to kepe gard it had not many dayes before sent out of the towne foure companies of footmen to S. Angeo where Ant. de Leua had made as though he would incampe for which want of vittels weaknes of men of whom the numbers were very small within the towne and worse furnished for the seruice there was no confidence in all construction of warre and warre causes to be hable to defende it and therfore whē he saw thartilleries were planted bent to execute not enduring the proofe of one bollet nor the venture of one assalt he rēdred the town vnder saftie of life goods aswell for himselfe as his souldiours In this action he was charged greatly which also was a cause to hasten the rendring of the town that he was more caryed by couetousnes not to loase the wealth and ryches he had gathered together vpon so many prayes and pillages then induced by any desire to preserue the glory he had gotten in so many excellent and braue exploytes of warre and chiefly in the seruices of Pauia Now was the warre very hotly kindled in Tuskane for that as the Prince of Orenge had taken Spello and the Marquis of Guast who followed him with the Spanish infanterie beginning to drawe neare him with his armie so he went on and aduaunced by good degrees till he came at the bridge of Saint Iohn neare to Perousa vppon Tyber where ioyned with him the regimentes of Spanish footemen In this Citie was a strength of three thousand footmen of the Florentins And the Prince before he planted his campe before Spello sent a messenger to Perousa to perswade Malatesta to obey the will of the Pope Who seeking to appropriate to hym selfe by what waye so euer the Citie of Perousa and to th ende the armie might passe further made this offer to Malatesta that if he would leaue Perousa he would preserue his estates and his proper goods he would consent that he might freely goe to the defence of the Florentins and would be bound that Braccio and Sforce Baillons nor any other his enemies should reenter into Perousa And albeit Malatesta assured him that he woulde not accept any offer without consent of the Florentins yet he opened more and more hys eares to thembassages of the Prince who after he had conquered Spello solicited hym more vehemently All these offers and deuises Malatesta communicated wyth the Florentins beeing happly inclined to passe thaccorde for that both he feared the ende of things and was no lesse doubtfull that the Florentins would not continue to giue him all the aydes and succours he desired and when by necessitie he shoulde be driuen to accorde he had no hope to find better condicions then those that were offred him holding it a better way that without offending the Pope or to giue him occasion to depriue him of the goodes and places which he preserued for him to keepe him selfe possessed of the paye of the Florentins then in standing to his defence which by many arguments was fraile and casuall both to put wilfully into daunger his whole estate and also to pul vpon him the hatred of his friends and the towne So that as he assured dayly and perseuered in this that he woulde not accorde without their priuitie so also he added that if they would haue him to defende Perousa they must of necessitie supplie him of new with a thousande footemen and turne the residue of their companies to make head at Orsaio a place within fiue miles of Cortona vpon the confines of Cortona and Perousa a matter which they could not doe without decaying the garrisons of their other townes And yet the weaknes of the towne was such that by necessitie they must retyre at euery moouing of the enemies he perswaded with them also that in case he did not accord the Prince leauing the enterprise of Perousa woulde take his way to Florence in which case also it was needfull that they left him within Perousa a thousand footemen of seruice which yet would not be sufficient since the Pope had meanes to vexe the Citie with other forces then with the regiments imperial But if he did accorde then the Florentins were to retire to them selues all their bands of footemen who should be accompanied with two or three hundred men of choyse of his owne trayning and for his part his estates and goods being left to him and his enemies excluded from all exspectation to haue Perousa he shoulde bee reduced to better tearmes and estate of quietnes to hearken to their defence if the election had rested in the Florentins they coulde haue bene better contented to continue the warre at Perousa But discerning that Malatesta interteyned a continuall intelligence with the Prince and no lesse assured that he had not discontinued to practise with the Pope they douted vpon these good grounds least by the incitation and importunitie of his friends and folowers and in compassion of the domages of the citie and countrey and lastly for suspicion of the enemies and instabilitie of the people he would in the end giue place to the power of the time They interpreted it also to too great a daunger hazard to put into Perousa almost the whole reputacion and flower of their forces exsposed to the peril of the fidelitie of Malatesta to the apparant daūger to be forced by thenemies to the manifest difficulty to reuoke thē againe in case Malatesta should accord They also brought into consideration that the chaunging of Perousa could preiudice them litle both the friends of Malatesta remayning there still and he reteyning his Castels and Borowes none of his brothers returning thyther at all so that so long as it perseuered in this estate it could not be that the Pope would not be in suspicion of it Thus they wandred in suspence and incertaintie of mynde and in that perplexitie making their chiefest care of the safetie of their men and hauing no assured confidence in the constancie of Malatesta they dispatched secretly the sixt of september a man of credence to drawe away their bands of souldiers from Perousa fearing to bee abused if the accorde went on But being informed afterwards that they could not get away for that thenemies were comen neare at hand they sent with diligence to Malatesta their consent that he might compound But his necessities and feare of further daunger were swifter then the diligence they made to dispatch to him their consent for that before the messenger aryued the Prince of Orenge the ix of September hauing passed Tiber at the bridge of Saint Iohn and being drawen into campe and offering certaine skirmishes he was driuen to compounde the same night By whiche composition he bound him selfe to depart
from Perousa with obligacion of sufferaunce to enioy his goodes to goe to the seruice of the Florentins and to retire their companies in safetie and to giue him the better time to leade them vpon the dominions of Florence the Prince of Orenge promised not to remoue in two dayes from the place where he lay incamped So that they issued out of Perousa the xij daye and making very spedie marches they went the same day to Cortono by the waye of the mountaines long troublesome but free and assured Thus was the body of the warre reduced vpon the lands of the Florentins to whom albeit the Venetians and Duke of Vrbyn had giuen many hopes that they would ayde them with three thousand footemen a strength which for suspicion of the Princes comming into those quarters they had sent vpon the state of Vrbyn yet because they would not displease the Pope that promise soarted to none effect Onely the Venetians gaue money to the commissarie Castrocaro to wage two hundred footemen and notwithstanding that state and the Duke of Ferrara enterteined continual solicitation to compounde with the Emperour yet they forbare not to comfort the Florentins and encourage them to stande to their defence hoping vnder such propertie of difficultie to raunge thEmperour more easely and to get to them selues better condicions The Florentins at that instant had principallie two actions in hand the one to temporise and delay the armie so long as they might haue time to rampart and fortifie their towne vnder the walls whereof they looked that in the end the warre would be reduced the other to labor to appease the mind of thEmperour yea euen in according with the Pope so farrefoorth as the forme of their libertie and gouernment popular were not innouated By reason whereof being not yet come the exclusion of their Embassadors they had sent a messenger to the Prince of Orenge and made a nominacion of embassadors to goe to the Pope desiring him when they signified vnto him the election that he would make a surceance of the armie vntil they were ariued which he refused to doe So that the Prince being aduaunced and come on with his forces he battred and gaue the assault to the subburbs of Cortono which looke to Orsaio in which citie were seuen hundred footemen strong he was repulsed from thence finding both force and vallour where he exspected but weaknes or disloialtie There was a greater strength of footemen within Aretzo But as Antho. Frauncis Albizi commissarie fearing least the Prince after the taking of Cortono leauing Aretzo behinde him would take the way of Florence and preuenting the companies that were with him in Aretzo the citie of Florence in that astonishment would draw to accord for want of the readiest succours that they had determined to abandon it So for those reasons and considerations without the publike consent of the state though happly obseruing a secret intencion of the Gonfalonier he went from Aretzo with al his companies leauing onely two hundred footemen within the Castel But being arriued at Feguina by the counsel of Malatesta that was there who allowed well that they should reduce all their forces to the defence of Florence he sent backe againe to Aretzo a thousand footemen to the end it should not be left altogether abandoned And as in the course of calamities accidents happen by succession so the xvij day the towne of Cortono for whose keeping and defending a thousand men had bene a strength sufficient seeing the Florentines vsed not such order as they ought rendred notwithstandyng it was verye litle pressed by the Prince with whome the towne compounded to pay him xx thousand Duckats By the accident of Cortono the souldiers that lay within Aretzo douting of their sufficiency to defend it abandoned that Citie which the xix day compounded also with the Prince but with capitulaciōs clauses rather to rule gouerne them selues in their libertie vnder shadow of the Emperours protectiō then to beare any longer the yoke subiection of the Florentins declaring to be false fayned the professiō which to this day they had made to be friends to the family of Medieis enemies to the gouernmēt popular At which time thEmperour refused expresly to giue any more audience to the Florentine embassadors vnles they restored the house of Medicis the Prince of Orenge notwithstanding thembassadors that were with him detested without any regard the Popes couetousnes and the iniquity of that enterprise had neuertheles told thē that without restoring the Medicis he must of necessity cōtinue the warre whereupon calling his army into view muster he found that he had strong three hūdred mē at armes fiue hundred light horsmen two thousand fiue hundred laūceknights braue bodies two thousand footmen Spanish three thousand Italians al disposed vnder the leading of these captaines Sero Colonno Peter Maria Rossa Peter Levvys de Faruesa and Iohn Baptista Sauella and to them afterwards came Iohn Sassatello bringing with him the mony which he had receiued before of the Florentins whose pay he had accepted To thē also was adioyned Alexander Vitelly hauing betwene three foure thousand footmen Onely the Prince had smal store of artilleries therefore he prayed ayde of them of Siena to furnish him who standing in case not to refuse to so mighty an army of themperour any thing they demaūded they gaue order to refurnish him with some proporcion of artilleries but prepared it with as great delayes longnes as they could both for the hatred they bare against the Pope ielousie they had of his greatnes also for that they were ill cōtented with the mutacion of the gouernment of Florence with whō by reason of their cōmon hatred against the Pope they had for certaine moneths enterteined together a secret peace intelligence In this meane while the Pope had giuē audience to the Florentyn embassadors to whom he answered that as his intencion was not to alter the libertie of the citie so he was not caryed into this way of enterprise armes so much for the iniuries he had receiued of that gouernment necessity to assure his owne estate as in regard of the capitulations he had made with thEmperour in which debating now vpon the interest of his honor he required no other thing of thē then that they would voluntarily referre themselues to his arbitrement power which being done he would make to them good declaration testimonie with what propertie of zeale deuocion he desired the benefit aduancement of their cōmon countrey and vnderstanding afterwards that the feare astonishment was encreased at Florence specially since they were aduertised that thEmperour had refused to heare their embassadors in that regarde where they had elected new embassadors to go to him which he thought was done to submit accord to him that he demaunded desiring that the matter might be suddenly done to auoyd the destruction of the countrey
a cāpe they would driue the ennemies through difficulties to dissolue the warre which they durst not resist by their vallor Neuertheles either to auoid these difficulties or to prepare a remedy the prince of Orenge had sent out xv hundred footemen iiij hūdred horsemen with iiij peces of artilleries to take Lastra wherin were three enseignes of footemē of whom was passed to the sword two hundred bodies and the towne taken before the reskewes of Florence could ariue it hapned also that in the night of the xj of December Stephen Colonno with a thowsand harquebuziers and iiij hundred halberdiers and partisanes all armed with corselets and cassakins after the maner of camisado of Spaine set vpon the regiment of Sero Colonno lying in the houses neare to the Church of Saint Margaret de Monticio and in that surprise they slew and wounded many soldiours without the losse of one person of theirs About that time were slaine with the bollette within the gardin of Saint Mymato Maria Vrsin and Iulio saint Crosse And in the like fortune Pirrhus going to Saint Peters Borovv to take Montopoly which is a towne of the contrey of Pisa he was cut of by the footemen that were within Employ and being defeated in the waie betwene Palaia Montopoly many of his companies fell into the fortune of prisoners The Florentyns sent to the borow of Saint Sepulchro Napolion Vrsin with an hundred fiftie horsemen to encounter Alexander Vitelly who was sent to destroie the contrey all a long the saied borow and Anguiaro But now the warre beginning to fall into action of terror and astonishment after the regimēts newly sent by themprour were passed the Alpes the townes of Pistoya and Prato being abandoned of the Florentyn garrisons were yeelded vp to the Pope By reason whereof the armie that had left behind them no impediment marched not to ioine with the others but remaining incamped on the other side of Arno they went to lodge at Peretola neare the walls of the citie vnder the authoritie gouernment of the Marquis of Guast though the prince of Orenge was alwaies superior and absolute aboue all By which disposing of the armie apart and separate things were rather reduced to the forme of a seege then to an action of oppugnacion At this time also Pietrasanta was rendred to the Pope And as the Pope labored with a perpetuall studie and care of minde to leade to perfection the purposes he had pretended to reestablish and sette vp his house in Florence so towardes the ende of this yeare partly at the request of Malatesta Baillon who gaue him hope of accord he sent to Florence directly to him Rodolffo Pio bishop of Faensa with whom were debated diuerse and sundrie thinges some with the priuitie of the citie and for their profitte and some in secrecie by Malatesta against the weale of the citie matters which much lesse that they soarted to any effect seeing it was discerned that Malatesta who was now come to the expiracion and full time of his paie had enterteined them with art conning to th end that the Florentins fearing to be abandoned of him would estsones reteine him into their pay with title of capteine general of the warre which in th end he obteined This enterprise of Florence continued also the yeare a thowsand fiue hundred and thirtie and albeit the prince of Orenge in beginning to make new caualiers cast new trenches made demonstraciō to batter vehemently the bastillions but chefly the bastillion of Saint George which was very strong yet what thorow his ignorance which could not be without his ignominie and what for the difficultie in the action wherein his errour was nothing lesse not one deuise was put in execucion the garde of the whole Mount apparteining to Stephen Colonno In the beginning of this yeare the Florentins taking hope in the matters of negociacion with the bishoppe of Faensa sent of newe other embassadours to the Pope and to themprour but with expresse commission to innouate nothing nor harken to any mocion by the which the gouernment might be altered or the generall iurisdiction diminished So that as they were repugnant in the principall article so they could neuer obteine audience of themprour but according to the vanitie of their commission they retorned to Florence without any conclusion There were within Florence nyne or tenne thowsande footemen strong but payed according to the number of foureteene thowsande And as the souldiours were resolute to defende the Citie with a great affection and readynes of fayth So to confirme them the more all the Capteines being assembled in the Church of Saint Nicholas after the celebration of the Masse and in the presence of Malatesta they made a solemne othe to stande against the iniuries and inuasions offred agaynst the Citie vntill the laste man Onely in this vniuersall constancie was founde vnconstant Napoleon Vrsin who notwithstanding he professed him selfe assured to the Florentins by receyuing their money and imprest yet he became a reuolte and returning to Bracciano compounded his affayres with thEmperour and the Pope and reuoked from the seruice of Florence certaine capteines whom he had sent thither before But the Pope omitted no diligence wherein he thought was any meane to aduaunce his intention Wherein he so wrought with the French king that he sent Monsr Cleremont to excuse thaccorde he had made by necessitie to redeme his children And where he alleaged how impossible it was to comprehend that state in thaccorde he counselled them with reasons inducements to lay themselues downe to the necessitie of the time and take suche conditions as they might so farreforth as they were conducible to the profit and conseruation of their liberty In which good inclination to helpe to raunge the issue of things to their weale and benefite he offred as it were to interpose in the action He also commaunded by publike protestation Malatesta and Stephen Colonno being of the kings creation and dependancy to depart from Florence notwithstanding a part and seuerally he gaue them comfort to the contrary But the thing that imported moste to staye his reputation and astonishe the people was that to satisfie the Pope and the Emprour he retyred his ordinarie Embassador resident at Florence leauing there notwithstanding as a person priuate Emilio Ferier by whom for that he woulde not vtterly leaue them desperate he made secret promise to ayde thē assone as he had recouered his children Such was the Popes ambition in this action and so suttle was his humor to serue his turne of all meanes that eyther art or industrie could insinuate that he had almoste brought the Frenche king to make retyre from his Court thembassadour resident for Florence Wherein to drawe better fauour to his purposes he sent by the Bishop of Tarby the Cardinalls Hatte to the Lorde Chauncellor and not long after he gratified him with the legation of the realme of Fraunce And by him
he solicited a new enteruiew and conference at Thurin betwene themprour the French king and himselfe But he was aunswered in the full counsell of the king sitting that it was enough that the children of the Crowne of Fraunce were vnder captiuitie without that the person of the king should seeke to intrude himselfe into that calamitie The Pope and themprour did now determine to go to Sienna to be more ready and apt to fauor thenterprise of Florence and afterwards to drawe to Rome for the coronation of the Emprour But whether it was a true or false deliberatiō as they were vppon the poynt prepared to depart the Emprour receiued letters out of Germany soliciting him to returne thither the electors making instance for regard of the dyets and Ferdinand standing to be chosen king of Romains and others in respect to celebrate the counsell By these new instances whether more effectuall for their sodennes or for their cōformitie to themprors will al deuises counsels to passe further were dashed in which variatiō the empror was cōtēted to receiue the Imperiall Crowne within Bolognia beeing assisted with a great affluence of people but susteyning a verye slender pompe and exspences He was crowned vppon Saint Matthievves daye a daye of many happye predictions for that on that daye was he borne in that daye was the Frenche king taken prisoner and during that daye was he celebrated with the enseignes and ornamentes of th Imperiall dignitie But before thEmperour departed to returne into Germanie he laboured to accorde wyth the Pope the Duke of Ferrara who the seuenth daye of Marche came to Bolognia vnder safeconduit And because there was no other meane of issue or ende betweene them they referred to the person of the Emperour the arbitration and Compromise of righte and action touchinge all their controuersies To the whiche the Pope was induced by the generalitie of the Compromise suche as comprehended also the quarrell and tytle of Ferrara whiche the Pope doubting that according to tearmes of righte it woulde not diuolue to the sea Apostolike he thoughte thEmperoure had an easie meane in vsing silence for Ferrara to bringe hym to render Modena and Reggia The Pope also was induced by the worde and promyse whiche thEmperour made to hym that if he founde that he had righte to those two Cities he woulde pronownce iudgemente of hys syde but if by examination it appeared otherwyse he woulde suffer to expyre and determine the tyme of the Compromise And to assure the obseruation of the sentence and resolution of the Compromise there wente a couenaunt that the Duke shoulde depose Modena into the handes of thEmperour at whose instance he had reuoked before his Embassadours from Florence and ayded the army with a proportion of Pyoners After this thEmperour departed from Bolognia the xxij daye the Pope hauing lefte hym satisfied that hys intention was to consente to the Councell if he thoughte it mighte anye waye auayle for thextirpation of the Heresies of the Lutherans The Cardinall Campeius wente wyth hym as Legate And so he passed by Mantua where after he had receyued threescore thowsande duckettes of the Duke of Ferrara he gaue to hym in chiefe for euer the towne of Carpy After whome the Pope the xxxj daye tooke hys waye to Rome leauing the matters of Florence in the same estate of difficulties they were before The Imperialls made many signes and braueries as though they would assault the Citie for whiche cause they had begon a trenche before the Bastillion of Saint George where beeing perfourmed a hoate skirmishe the xxj of Marche they without receyued greate harmes The xxv daye the Prince of Orenge finding his campe muche vexed by a towre adioyning to the side of the Bastillion of Saint George towardes the gate of Rome battered it with hys artilleries But finding it very strong and well appoynted after certayne volues of Cannon he forbare any further execution There aryued dayly at the campe newe companies and bands of souldiours by whose insolencie and licentiousnesse for that there was no warres in any other parte of Italie the harmes and ruines of the countrey of Florence encreased continually The Citie of Voltero was rendred to the Pope but the Castell holding good for the Florentins suffred greate executions with two Cannons of thimperialles and two Coluerines broughte from Genes And the Florentines desyring to succour it sente oute to Employ an hundred and fyftie horsemen and fiue enseignes of footemen who making their marche by nighte passed by the Campe neare the Mounte Olyuet and beeing discouered there were sente oute after them certayne guidons of horsemen who ouertooke them but beeing skirmished withall by the harquebuziers they retyred with some losse And the horsemen that were issued out of Florence by an other waye behinde the campe saued them selues at the same tyme with the footmen within Employ where they were receyued by Frauncis Feruccio commaunder of that place This man beeing sente in the beginning of the warre by the Florentins to Employ as commaunder ouer a verye small companie of horsemen and with a verye little authoritie had what with the obseruation of the warre and with thoportunitie of that seate and with thoccasion of prayes and ordinarie incursions assembled together a good crewe of souldiours of choyse with whome bothe by hys vallour whiche he had well expressed and also by his lyberalitie which was infinite in hym he was rysen to so good estate of reputation that the Florentins had no small exspectation of hym Feruccio then departed from Employ with two thousande footemen and fiue hundred horse with whiche armie marching with great celeritie he entred within the castell of Voltero the xxvj of Aprill earely in the morning where hauing well refreshed his souldiours he assaulted presently the towne which was garded by Iohn Baptista Borgueso with a verye slender strength of footemen and winning before night two of their trenches he had the towne the next moarning together with the artilleries that were come from Genes The first action he managed after he was Lorde of the towne was by extorsions and wayes compulsiue to exacte money of thinhabitauntes of Voltero and no lesse by that good helpe then by his vallour and industrie he constrayned to reuolte Gimignana and Collo and cutting off the traffike of vittelles that came from Sienna by that waye he had reduced the armie of the ennemies to greate difficulties whose capteines thinking of no other expedition then of the siege the Marquis of Guast retyred thartilleries within Prato But so suddayne and vncertayne are the things of warre there happned into those quarters vnlooked for Capteyne Maramus leading a regiment of two thowsande fiue hundred footemen without paye By reason of which succour beeing come agaynst the Popes will he kepte on his course for that Maramus went to incampe with his people at the suburbes of Voltero The nynth of Maye was executed a greate skirmishe without the gate called Romegate wherein remayned
reuenge as he confessed of a trumpet whome he had caused to be hanged beeing sente to him at the siege of Voltero to declare a message Thus the Florentins seemed delyuered vp to a condition abandoned of all succours bothe diuine and humaine in whome also increased dayly afflictions of famine without hope of further remedie or comforte And yet albeit their extremities for their nature were no lesse heauye and greeuous then their remedies desperate yet the obstinacie of those that opposed agaynst the accorde was nothing abated but was augmented by the same degrees which multiplied their wantes and extremities Those men beeing induced by a laste dispayre not to pull vpon them their owne ruine without the distruction of the countrey and standing nowe no more wilfully resolued to dye for the safety of the countrey but that their common countrey and their lyues should take ende together were also followed of many who flattered them selues with this impression that the succours of the great God of wonders woulde not appeare before thinges were reduced to suche tearmes as there remayned no further exspectation in humayne helpe And as the Magistrates and almoste all suche as managed any publike authoritie were concurrant in this obstinacie and no place left to impugne it for that greater was the awe of the Magistrates and threates of armes then the reasons or perswasions of those that were of the contrarie opinion So there had bene daunger that the warre woulde haue ended with the laste destruction of that Citie had it not bene for the industrie of Malatesta who seeing the aduersitie of the Citie to be without remedie dyd as it were constrayne them to incline to accorde Wherein happlye he was caryed by pitie and compassion to see wholly perishe throughe the rage of her Citisens a Citie so auncient and flourishing And happly he was moued by the dishonour and domage that mighte come to him to bee present at so greate a ruine But the principall cause of his induction was that he hoped to obteyne of the Pope by the meane of that accorde suffraunce to returne to Perousa So that whilest the Magistrates and suche as were most furious and forward were consulting to make issue out of the Citie the souldiours to giue battell to thenemies who both exceeded them in numbers and aduauntage and strength of place and that he refused to go out with them They suffred their passion to cary them so farre that they decassed him and deposed hym from his charge of Capteine and sente certayne of the moste disordered amongest them to denownce agaynst him a commaundement to go out of the towne with his companies A matter which both for the soddennes comming vnlooked for and for the property of iniurie being not deserued did so inflame and kindle him that striking at one of them with his dagger the assistantes that were by him had muche to do to deliuer him with his life out of his hands By which accident the present company being astonished the whole Citie beginning to ryse those that were not so farre incensed with passion and fury began in better temperāce to reprehend the rashnes of the Gonfalonier who though he went to arme himselfe protesting sometimes that he would set vpon Malatesta and sometimes that he woulde issue out to feight with thenemies at laste thinges were qualified to this moderation that the desperate obstinacie of many gaue place to the extreme necessitie of the whole In so muche as in those moodes they sente out foure Embassadours the nynth of August to capitulate with Don Ferrand Gonsaguo who for the death of the Prince of Orenge commaunded in the army the Marquis of Guast beeing retyred before with whom the day following the conclusion was made of which these were the principall articles that the Citie within very few dayes should pay fourescore thousande duckets for the withdrawing of the armie That the Pope and the Citie shoulde giue authoritie to themprour to declare within three monethes what should be the fourme of the gouernment alwayes reseruing and sauing their lybertie That there was generally pardoned all maner of iniuries done agaynst the Pope his friendes and his seruauntes That tyll the declaration and sentence of themprour were passed Malatesta Baillon should remayne within the Citie in garrison with two thowsande footemen Assone as this accorde was made and whilest the money was collected for the armie whereof there was neede of a farre greater summe for that in the Pope was found little readines to releeue the Citie with money in so great a daunger The Popes Commissarie called Bart. Valory ioyning with Malatesta who aspired altogether to returne to Perousa made a conuocation of the people in the publike place according to the auncient customes of that Citie to the which the Magistrates and multitudes agreed through feare And in that Parliament they introduced a newe fourme of gouernment by the whiche was giuen authoritie to twelfe Citisens of the faction of the Medicis to dispose as they thought good of the pollicie of the Citie who reduced it to that fourme whiche it was wont to carye before the yeare a thowsande fiue hundred seuen and twentie After this the armie dislodged and brake vp and hauing receyued money for the orderly pay and satisfying of the vniuersall bandes the Italian capteines conuerting to their owne priuate vsage to the great ignominy of their discipline that which should haue runne amongst the souldiours by share retyred into Florence loaden with the money which was appoynted to paye the armie They contented with a litle the regiments of footemen and dismissed them who remeining without leaders or commaunders went dispersed into diuers places of the contry But for the Spanyards launceknights being fully aunswered of all their payes they went out of the townes and iurisdiction of Florence drew to the contry of Sienna to reorder the gouernment of that citie And as Malatesta Baillon whome the Pope suffred to returne to Perousa without tarying for the declaracion of thEmprour left the citie wholly to the arbitracion and will of the Pope So after the souldiours were gone out of it the persecutions punishments of the Citizens began the ende of one calamitie being the beginning of an other for those into whose power and administracion was diuolued the gouernment and authoritie partly to assure better the state and partly by malice conceiued against the authors of so many euills and partly for memorie of iniuries perticularly receyued but principally to satisfie the intencion and endes of the Pope though he made small manifestacion thereof Those I say obseruing happly the superficies and outward declaracion of the wordes but wresting and peruerting the inward sense interpreted that the chapter or article by the which pardon was promised to such as had iniuried the Pope and his friendes extended not to deface and wipe out the wrongs crymes which by them selues were committed in matters that cōcerned the common weale In which
state of Sienna at ten thowsand and the citie of Lucquay at a thowsand And to thend to be found prepared against all suddeine vnlooked for inuasions vntill defense might be made with the contribucions afforenamed it was agreed that immediatly should be leauied a loane of a summe of money almost equall to the taxacions and that not to be exspended onlesse the preparacions to inuade Italy were manifestly discerned There was also set downe a small contribucion yearely for thinterteinment of those Capteines that remeyned in Italy and to defraye certeine pensions to the Svvyzzers to stoppe that nation for giuing ayde of men to the French king Ouer this league was declared Capteine generall by common consent Antho. de Leua with ordenaunce that he should remeine in the Duchie of Myllan Touching the generall councell there was nothing cōcluded to the liking of thEmprour who stil solicited the Pope to send out present summonce for it But he refused to accomplishe the mocion alleaging that as in that ill disposicion of the time and mens mindes there would be daunger lest the kings of England and Fraunce would not appeare So if the councell were celebrated without them much lesse that there could be introduced either vnion or reformacion of the Church seeing it was to be feared lest things would diuolue to a manifest scisme Onely he was content to send out Nuncioes to all Princes to induce them to so holly a worke But albeit thEmprour made a question to him what would be the yssue of thinges if those two Princes did dissent from them without iust cause and pressed him in that case to intimat the councel yet he could neuer dispose him to it So that his Nuncioes were assigned and sent out with a very slender hope to bring backe any good conclusion ThEmprour was no better satisfied touching the negociacion of the parentage for that when the two Cardinalls which the French king had sent were comen to Bolognia and had eftsoones recontinued the negociacion of the mariage with the second sonne of Fraunce The Pope gaue aunswer to the offer made for the Duke of Myllan and exhibited by the Emprour That whereas the Frenche king had long time before made an ouerture of mariage for his sonne he had harkned to the mocion by the consent of thEmprour declaring at that time his good consent and liking he should nowe doe too greate a wronge to the Frenche king if during the negociacion he should giue his Neece in mariage to one of his ennemies But he perswaded him that that practise was artificially introduced by the French king to enterteine him and not with intencion to conclude it seing there was betweene the parties so great disagreement and inequalitie of degree and condicion Lastly he assured him that he would not commit so great an offence to the king if he sawe not before the practise and solicitacion altogether broken And the Emprour for his parte beeing not to be perswaded that the French king would adioyne his sonne to a matche so farre vnequall to him encouraged and aduised the Pope that for the better vncouering of the kings dissimulacions he would presse the Cardinals to send for a procuracion to contract them which accordingly was accomplished in fewe dayes and exhibited in very ample forme By which readines and resolute meaning not onely was lost all hope of affinitie with Frauncis Sforce but also the solicitacion with the French king was pursued with so muche the more importunitie and to it was further added according to the deuise betweene them longe before that the Pope and the Frenche kinge shoulde contracte together at Nyce A citye of the Duke of Sauoye standing vppon the ryuer of Var and separateth Italye from Prouence These matters were not a litle discontenting to thEmprour aswell for a suspicion he had that betwene the Pope and French king were concluded a greater coniunction to his preiudice as also for that he was ielous that in the Pope remeyned not some secrete memorie and impressions of his imprisonment of the sacke of Rome of the mutacion of Florence and of other wronges To these he adioyned the passion of disdayne wherein he iudged that the honor which the Pope had done to him in making two iorneyes to Bolognia to speake with him woulde stande derided and diminished if he shoulde make a voyage by sea so farre as Nyce to meete with the French king But in vaine were these suspicions and the causes of them though he could not dissemble them for that in the Popes mind was vehemently norished and affected the desire of that affinitie beeing happly moued more with ambicion and appetit of glorye in that beeing of a house almoste simple and priuate he had obteyned in recompense of a bastarde Nephewe of his A bastard Daughter of so mightye an Emperour and nowe in exchaunge of his Neece legyttimate he had honored his howse with the seconde sonne of Fraunce lawefully borne and orderly assured Then that he was induced which many councelled him that by the meane of that parentage he might giue cooller of right though more apparant then true to the Frenche king to enter for his sonne and for his Daughter in law vppon the estate of Florence To these discontentments of thEmprour may be added also as a full accomplishment of his disliking That where he made instance to the Pope to create three Cardinalls exhibited by him he obteyned onely and that with difficultie the calling of thArchbishop of Bary the Pope making his excuses vppon the contradiction of the Colleage of Cardinalls The Emprour stoode litle appeased in the readines which the Pope showed to make a secret confederacion with him wherein he promised to proceede iudicially to pronownce iudgements and censures and all other things that might be done by right against the king of England and against the Lady Anne Bolleyne And they were bownd to make no new confederacions or accords with Princes without reciprocall consent one of an other Thus thEmprour departed from Bolognia the daye after the conclusion of the confederacion being now no lesse assured in him selfe that the sayd mariage would goe on together with thenteruiew betweene the Pope and the French king Then he had reason to doubt some greater coniunction And beeing embarked at Genes he passed into Spaine with this resolute intencion that if the mariage of Katherine de Medicis were celebrated with the seconde sonne of Fraunce he woulde dissolue and breake the matche made betwene his Daughter and Alexander de Medicis Not many dayes after the Pope departed to goe to Rome beeing accompanied with the two French Cardinalls and nothing troubled with the newe confederacion for that as he was excellent in simulacions and practises in which he was not surmounted with feare so he had told them that vppon concluding the league the spanish armie was to dissolue decasse A matter which would turne more to the benefit of the french king then the league
Cardinall of Amboyse aspireth to the Popedome Frauncis Piccolomini made pope The Vrsins against Valentynois Valentynois distressed by the Vrsins Pope Pius the thirde dieth Cardinall S. Petri Ad vincla made Pope The Pope â—oÌ„plaineth to the Venetâ—ans The VenetiaÌ„s ansvvere to the nevve Pope Faenza taken by the Venetians Duke Valentynois arested by the Pope 〈…〉 beyonde the Mounts A truce betvveene the kinges of Spayne and Fraunce VVhat hapned to the French men as they vvould haue passed Garillon Bart. Aluiano commeth to the 〈…〉 of Consaluo Peter de Medicis d 〈…〉 Peace betvveene the Turke â—â— the Venetians Discourse vpoÌ„ the nauigations of the Spaniards Complaints of the Frenchemen Consaluo deserueth the title of great captayne Valentynois prisoner by Consaluo Truce betvveene the kinges of Spayne and Fraunce Confederation betvveene the Pope king of Romains and the â—â—enâ—he king against the Venâ—â—ans The death of king Federike The death of Elizabeth Queene of Spayne Testament of Queene Elizabeth The Florentins broken by the Pisans Death of Cardinall Arkanius Consaluo aydeth the Florentins The Florentins debate vvhether they should besege Pisa The Florentins armie afore Pisa Peace betvvene the French king and king of Spayne An horrible act of a Cardinall Sedes of nevv vvarres Dissimulation very daungerous in the persons of great men King Philip saileth out of Flaunders into Spayne King Phillip caste by casualtie of sea vpon the cpasts of Englande Philip promiseth to redeliuer to king H. the duke of Suffolke Capitulations betvvene Ferdinand Philâ—p The conditioÌ„ of imperie dignitie ielous Imaginations of the French king The Pope deuiseth to vvin agayne Bolognia Malice is infinite in her actions The Pope vvill go in person to the enterprise of Bolognia The great capteine consirmed in the duchy of S. Ange. The death of king Phillip A coÌ„tinuance of the historie of Iulio d'Este The death of duke Valentynois The citie of Genes rebelleth Rebellion increaseth in occasions The seate of dominion very casual vvhere it diuolueth by election Rashnes hath no societie vvith discretion The contentes of the French armie The first defease of the Genovvies The Genovvaies sende to solicite for pardon The rebels of Genes yeelde to the French king The Frenche king entreth as a conquereâ— into Genes The sub 〈…〉 of the rebels of Genes The Pope and the Venetians incite the k. of Romains to make vvarre vppon the French king The dyet of Constance Themperour speaketh in the dyet The kings of Aragon and Fraunce haue enteruievv together The oration of Ni. Foskarin The oration of Andrevv Gritti Deliberation of the Venetians Aluiano beeing sent to suâ—â—â—r Friul giueth the rout to the Almains Truce betvvene Maximilian and the Venetians Thassâ—â—bly of Cambrâ—â— Deliberation of the Venetians The Pope ratisieth the treatise of Cambray A coÌ„tinuation of the vvarrs of Pisa Contract betvvene the French king king of Spaine and the Florentins The French king prepareth agaynst the Venetians The VenetiaÌ„s looke to them selues The ordenaÌ„ce house of Venice on fire Beginning of the vvarre The Popes Bull agaynst the Venetians The Venetians armie The armies affront one an other and feight not Deâ—ait of the Venetians Aluiano takeÌ„ prisoner The taking of many tovvnes by the french The lamentations made as Venice for the ouerthrovv The Popes souldiours in Romagnia The oration of Anth. Iustinian to Caesar Diuers opinions touching the fall of the Venetians The first hope of the Venetians The last actioÌ„ of the Florentins agaynst the Pisans Pisa rendred to the Florentins The VenetiaÌ„s determine to recouer Padoa The VenetiaÌ„s recouer Padoa The Marquis of Mantua prisoner The oration of Leonard Loredan The gentlemeÌ„ of Venice go to the succors of Padoa Description of Padoa Max returneth into Germany The Venetian armie at Vincensa The Venetian armie vpon the contrey of Ferrara Description of Verona Themâ— and the k. Caâ—h â—a to accord touching the gouernment of Castill Death of the Count Petillano The Venetian absolued The league of Caesar and the French king agaynst the Venetians The Pope threatneth the duke of Ferrara Monsr de Chaumont agaynst the Venetians The Vincentins yeelde to discression 〈…〉 M. Chaumont incampeth as Lungaro Conuencion betwene Caesar and the fr. king The taking of Monselice The Popes deliberation to chasse the french out of Italy The Popes ariuie against Ferrara and Genes The descending of the Swyzzers to the Duchie of Myllan The Venetians recouer most part of their townes after the departing of Chaumont Verâ—na beseged by the Vencuans Marquis of Mantua escapeth out of prison The Pope determineth to assaâ—le Genes Pope Iulio The kings disposition agaynst the Pope The Popes armie and the VenetiaÌ„s vppon the countrey of Ferrara Chaumont besiegeth the Pope vvithin Bolognia Chaumont retyreth from before Bolognia Mirandola beseeged The Pope in person at the campe assâ—re Mirandola Mirandâ—la yeldeth â—â— the Pope A neâ— deliberacion of the french according to the kinges direction Triuulce reasoneth The sr â–ª armie returneth to the Duchie of Myllan The sâ—â—k takes Bolognia into his protection The Pope makes ouerture of a new councell â—â— breake the councell of Pysa Friull taken agayne by the Almains The VenetiaÌ„s recouer Friul The Pope holden for dead The Pope pursueth his enterprise to chase the fr. out of Italie The hopes of the Pope The thoughtâ— of the fr. king Ouerture of the Councell of Pisa Cardinal Medicis vvho aftervvards vvas Pope Leo the tenth The Pope makes league vvith the Venetians the king Catholike 〈…〉 of the league The Pope depriueth the rebell Cardinalâ—s of the hat Pandolffo Po. councelleth the Pope A contencion betwene the Florentyns the Cardinalls rebells An ac 〈…〉 dent 〈…〉 the Card 〈…〉 lls depart 〈…〉 a. 〈…〉 The fr king suspecteth Maxymylian VVhat people the Swyzzers be Vales 〈…〉 Grisons The French king demaundeth succ 〈…〉 of the Florentins Soderin for the Frenche king The enterprise of Bolognia by the Pope and king of Aragon The Popes armie retireth from before Bolognia M. de Foix defeateth Ioh. Pavvle Baillon Bressia taken and sacked The armie of Monsr de Foix. The armie of she Confederats The seate of Rauenna The Confederats as the succours of Rauenna The order of the FrenchmeÌ„ in the battell of Rauenna Mâ—â—Soanâ—â— de 〈…〉 encourageth his souldiours to the battell The confederates army The death of Yues d'Allegre Monsr de Foix slaine The number of the dead Rauenna saâ—â—ed The Cardinals councell the Pope to harkeÌ„ to peace The Svvyzzers rise for the Pope against the frenchmen The Card. of Medicis escapeth from the french The D. of Ferrara goeth to Rome to demaund pardon of the Pope The D. of Ferrara in daunger to be prisoner at Rome The resolutioÌ„ of the treatie of Mantua by the confederates The Medicis returne to Florence Peter Sodeâ—in reasoneth in the Councell Prato taken by the Spaniards The castell of Genes taken by the Genowaies Bressia rendred by the french to the Viceroy Crema rendred to the Venetians The Bishop of Gurcy
at Rome Maxymylian Sforce restored to Myllan ThEnglish men as Fontarabye against the french king The king of Aragon taketh the Realme of Nauarre The purposes of Pope Iulio the second his death Creation of Pope Leo the tenth Coronation of the Pope Disposition of princes to the vvarre Desire of pope Leo to chase the Frenche out of Italy The Fr. men in the duchie of Millan The Pope sendeth money to the Svvizzers 〈…〉 Aluiano 〈…〉 generall â—â— the Venetians Aluiano taketh Pesquiero and other 〈…〉 Genes at the deuotion of the French. Nouaro beseged by the french The wordes of Capteine Motyn to the Svvyzzers The Frenchemen defeated by the Svvizzers The Pâ—pe 〈…〉 Humilitie of two Cardinals Padoa 〈…〉 gâ—d by the Viceroy Ouerthrowe of the Venetians armie Prouisions of the Frenche agaynst the king of Englande Torvvaine besieged by the English. The ouerthrow â—f the French neare 〈…〉 Rising of the Swizzers against the French king Thenglish as mie affore Tournay Tornay taken by thEnglish The Popes sentence touching the controuersies betwene Cesar the VenetiaÌ„s The hopes of the Frenche king Treatie of peace betwene Englande and Fraunce The Fr. king marieth the Lady Mary sister to the king of Englande Actions of the Pope The lantern of Genes rased by the people Emocions against the Venetians and of the Venetians Two ElephaÌ„ts presented to the Pope The death of king Lowys the twelfth 1515. Frauncis the first comes to the crowne The fr. king assumeth the title of duke of Millan Preparacions of the frenche king against the Duke of Millan Octauian Fregosa Duke of Genes â—â—mpoundes with the Frenche king The Swizzers seeke to stoppe the passage of the Frenche men The French armie The king of EnglaÌ„d sends to the frenche king not to passe into Italie The treatie betwene the king and the Swizzers broken The Cardinal of Syon persâ—adeth the Swizzers The battell of Marignan Pe. Nauarre afore the Castell of MillaÌ„ Death of Aluiano Enteruiew of Pope Leo the fr. king in Bolognia 1516. The french king returneth into Fraunce Death of the king Catholike Death of the Great Capteine The Venetians recouer Bressia The Pope taketh the Duchie of Vrbin giueth it to Laur â–ª de Medicis his nephew Capitulations betwene the French king and king Catholike Beginningâ— of new 〈…〉 Vrbin returneth to the obedience of the naturall Duke Fano besieged Description of the Citie of Pesero Consederacion betwene the Pope and fr. king Franciscomaria sendes to defie law de Medicis Scituacion of Fossambrono Lawrence loaseth thoccasioÌ„ of the victory Lawrence de Medicis hurt Ielousie against Iohn Ia. Tryuulce The death of Ioh. Ia. Triuulce The french aspireth to be Emperour 1519 Death of Lavv. de Medicis Charles the fife chesen Emperour Occasions of contention betwene the fr. king and themperor The Popes enterprise vppon Ferrara 1520. Martin Luther agaynst the Pope The Pope executeth Io. Paule Baillon ThEmprour in England Commocions in Spaine Pope Leo is the cause of the warre Fontarabye taken by the french Martin Luther Confederation betwene the Pope and thEmperour agaynst the fr. king The titles of thempire to the duchie of Millan Practises against the fr. king FrauÌ„cis Guicciardin the writer of this history Monsr d'Escud before Reggia Lightning vpon the castell of Millan The Marquis of Mantua for the Pope The resolucioÌ„ for the warre agaynst the Frenchmen Monsr de Lawtrech returneth to Millan Frauncis Guicciardin generall coÌ„maunder ouer the army The capteines of the league take counsell together The siege of Parma The Popes Capteines and the Emprours take councell to passe further The armie of the league passeth the riuer of Paw A fault of Monsr de Lavvtrech The Svvizzers leauied by the Pope vvoulde not march against the Frenche king The souldiers of the league passe the riuer of Adda The taking of Myllan by the league The death of Pope Leo the tenth The Frenche men before Parma The duke of Vrbin reentreth his estates Election of Pope Adrian the sixt The D. of Vrbin and the Baillons before Sienna Alexandria taken by the Imperialls Ten thowsand Swizzers discend into the Duchie of Millan for the fr. king Iohn Medicis for the french king The French men before Millan Frauncis Sforce at Millan Monsr Lawtrech before Pauia The Swvizzers woulde leaue the sr armie for that they are not payde Monsr Lawtrech determined to set vppon his enemies Thencounter of Bicocque The ouerthrow of the Swizzers Monsr Lawtrech returneth into Fraunce Loda taken by the Imperialls Genes taken by the Imperialls Monsr d'Escud returneth into Fraunce Emotions in Tuskane An accident in the towne of Lucquai The prouinces of â—â—alâ—e are taxed for the conseruation of the duchie of Millan Pope Adrian the vi coÌ„meth to Rome The king of England for thEmprour sendeth Embassadors to the Venetians to draw them from thalliaÌ„ce of the french VVhat thEmprour did in Spaine Roades taken Rhodes rendred vp to the Turke The Castell of Millan rendred by the French. The oracion of Andrevv Gritti touching thalliance vvith Caesar The oratioÌ„ of George Cornaro Andrea Gritty Duke of Venice Consederacion betwene Caesar and the Venetians Cardinall Volterro prisoner The French armie marcheth Confederacie betwene theÌ„prour the k. of England and the Duke of Burbon The french army in Italy The death of Pope Adrian Frauncis Guicciardin The taking of Reggia by the duke of Ferrara The taking of Loda by the French. The frenchmen breake vp from before Millan Cardinal Medicis is created Pope and taketh the name of Clement the seuenth The death of Prospero Colonno and his qualities The Duke of Burbon notable to doe any thing in Burgondie commeth to Myllan The imperials passe the riuer of Thesin The frenchmen go from before Millan The claime of the Kings of England to the Crowne of Fraunce The frenche king determineth to passe the mountes and to follow the ennemie The French king before Pauia The fr. king sendeth the Duke of Albanie into the realme of Naples The Pope counsellâ—th the fr. king and themperour to peace Duke of Ferrara aydes the French king during the siege of Pauia 1525. The defendantes of Pauya in necessitie The french king will â—â—t 〈…〉 the 〈…〉 of his Captemes The Imperialls take the castell S. Angeo Thimperialls drawe neare to Pauia The battell of Pauia wherin the frâ—king is take prisoner The Potentats of Italy in great feare for the imprisonment of the French king The VenetiaÌ„s solicite the Pope to confederate with them Thimperialls determine to accorde with the Pope Confederation betweene the Pope and the Emprour The rightes pretensions of the familie of Est The Pope sendes to visite the french king beeing prisoner The moderation and temperance of thâ— Emprour â—poÌ„ the neâ—es of the victory The Oration of the Bishop of Osimo touching the taking of the fr. king The opinion of the duke of Alba touching the kings imprisonment The sorowes and feares of Fraunce for the imprisonment of the king A treatise of of accord
proppertie of wisedom in parents to finde out the disposition of their children 52. A thing very daūgerous for men to gouerne by examples if there be not c. 52. A resolut part of a Councellor 59. All things earthly are subiect to their seasons of reuolucion and in mortal felicities can be no assurance nor perpetuity 88 Armes do litle aduaunce where policy is not concurrant and victorie bringeth a very short glory where the gouernment is vnperfect 88. Attēpt vpon the towne of Nouaro 96. Army of the confederats 99. Alfonso king of Aragon dyeth 115. A voyce mistaken defeateth an enterprise 135. An errour familiar with Princes ambicious to measure the euēt of things more by c. 189. Aluiano taketh Bybienna 201. After the seedes of aduersitie be sowen there is no longe exspectacion for the frutes c. 229. A weake surety whose fundatiō is builded vpon the blood of innocents a lamentable example to purge surmised suspicion by vnlawful murder 255. All violent attemptes being set foorth without councell at the beginning seeme mightie but c. 265. Accord betwene the frenche king and the Florentins 265. Aretza rebelleth against the Florentins in fauor of Peter de Medicis 267. Amongst vertuous men reconciliacion hath this propertie to knitte with greater suretie of faith constancy the harts that haue liued in seperacion 280. Anthony de Leua 287. Ambicion hath infinite operacions in this it abuseth the imaginations of men that c. 304. Aluiano being sent to succour Friull giueth the ouerthrow to thAlmains 399. Aluiano taken prisoner 422. Ambicion is a busie humor for that in whom it ruleth it maketh thē hard to be contented with thinges which they haue c. 476. An accidēt which made the Cardinals depart from Pisa 555. Army of the confederats 578. Actions of the Pope 676. Army of the league passeth the riuer of Paw 802. Alexandria taken by thimperialls 825. Army of the league before Millan 989 Army of the league come before Millan the second time 1002. A wicked act 1076. Alexandria taken 1078. Accord betwene the Pope themperours Agents 1085. Anthony de Leua recouereth Pauia 1110 Andrewe Dore leaueth the pay of the french 1117. B Beginning of the warre 36. Beginning of the warres of Pisa 72. Battell of Taro. 102. Beginning of warres in Naples vnder king Lewys the xij 267. Bart. Aluiano commeth to the succors of Consaluo 323. Bressia taken and sacked 574. Bressia rendered by the frenche to the Viceroy 619. Bishop of Gurcy at Rome 620. Bart. Aluiano Capteine generall of the Venetians 641. Bart. Aluiano taketh Pesquiero and other places 641. Battell of Marignan 703. Beginnings of new troubles 729. Battell of Pauya wherein the Frenche king is taken prisoner 902. Barbarousse at Thunis 1183. C Creacion of Pope Alexander 4. Corrupcion of Cardinals in thelection of the Pope Ibid. Confederacion betwene the Pope the Venetians and Duke of Myllan 11. Confederacion betweene the kinge of Fraunce and Lod. Sforce 19. Confederacion betwene the Pope and Alfonso king of Naples 28. Coniectures against the suttleties of Lod. Sforce 39. Cardinall S. Petri ad vincla giues a new life to the expedicion of Naples 41. The Collonnoys for the French k. 46. Cardinal S. P. ad vincla perswadeth the Pysans not to reuolt 56. Capitulacions betweene the French k. and the Florentyns 59. Capitulacions betweene the Pope and French king 63. Cardinal Valence the Popes sonne 64. Complaintes of the Pysans before the French king 74. Confederat league against the French king 87. Citie of Naples riseth to let in Ferdinand 112. Capitulacions betweene the Frenche king and the Florentyns 118. Couenants betwene Ferdinand king of Naples and the Venetians 146. Camylla Vrsin slayne 154. Consaluo surpriseth the French. 156. Caesar sendeth Embassadors to Florence 164. Caesar is comen to Pisa 167. Caesar marcheth to Lyuorna Ibid. Caesar leauieth his campe from Lyuorna 168. Caesar excuseth his suddeine departure 168. Caesar stealeth in hast into Germany 169. Capitulacions betweene the Pope and the Vrsins 172. Consaluo entreth Rome Ibid. Cardinal Valēce killeth his brother the d. of Cādia being both the Popes sōns 179 Castell of Genes rendred to the Duke of Myllan 181. Cardinall of Valence the Popes sonne renownceth his profession 203. Cardinal of Valence made Duke of Valentynois 204. Councell of Melchior Treuisan 209. Conclusion of the league betwene the French king and Venice 213. Count Caiezza leaueth the Duke of Millan 226. Cardinall Askanius leaueth Myllan abandoned 242. Cardinal Askanius betraied takē Ibid Cardinall Askanius deliuered ouer to the French men Ibid. Councell of S. Gregorie against ambicion 249. The chaunces in warre are diuerse and haue in them many hiddē fortunes which neither the wisedom of c. 253. Capitulacions betwene the D. Valentynois and Florentyns 256. Computacion of the French army 257 Consaluo retyreth to Barletto 274. Confederaciō against Valentynois 278 Capitulacions betwene the Vrsins and D. Valentynois 280. Cardinall Vrsin made prisoner 283. Combat betwene twelue French men against twelue Italyans 289. Consaluo in Naples 297. Castells of Naples takē by the spanish 300. Cardinall Amboise aspyreth to the Popedom 311. Cardinal S. Petri ad vincla made Pope 314. Complaints of the French. 331. Consaluo deserueth the title of greate Capteine 324. Confederaciō betwene the Pope king of Romains and the French king against the Venetians 338. Consaluo aydeth the Florentyns 346. Capitulacions betwene Ferdinand and Phillip 355. The condicion of imperie and dignitie is ielous 356. Continuance of the historye of Iulio d'Este 364. Citie of Genes rebelleth 365. Contents of the French army 372. Continuaciō of the warres of Pisa 412. Contract betweene the French kinge king of Spaine and the Florentyns 413. Conuencion betweene Caesar and the French king 477. Chaumont beseegeth the Pope within Bolognia 496. Chaumont retyreth from before Bolognia 499. Contencion betwene the Florentins rebellious Cardinalls 553. Coūcel of Pisa trāsferred to Millā 555. Confederats at the succors of Rauenna 582. The Confederats army 585. Cardinalls councel the Pope to harken to peace 590. Cardinal de Medicis escapeth from the French. 600. Conquest draweth with it ambiciō insolencie and couetousnes with c. 605 Castell of Genes taken by the Genowaies 619. Creacion of Pope Leo the tenth 633. Coronacion of the Pope 634. Capteine Martines words to the Swizzers 644. Cardinal of Syō perswadeth the Swizzers in an oracion 700. Capitulacions betweene the Frenche king and king Catholike 725. Confederacion betwene the Pope and French king 735. Charles the v. chosen Emprour 768. Commocions in Spayne 775. Confederacion betwene the Pope and thEmprour against the French king 781. Capteines of the league take councell together 790. Castel of Myllan rendred by the french 842. Cardinall Voltero prisoner 852. Confederacion betwene the emprour the king of England the Duke of Burbon 855. Cardinall Medicis is created Pope and taketh the name of Clement the vij 866. Claime of the kings of England to
ambicion and his power in Italy an impediment to his authoritie he ceassed not also to complaine against him and the Cardinall of Amboise indifferently but with such temperature and cunning that it seemed his discontentment proceeded chieflly of feare And yet as he was of a nature obstinate and inuincible and for the moste parte accompanied the disposicion of his minde with outward demonstracions So albeit he aspyred in his secret thoughts to an end of so great consequence and hard to obtaine reaposing onely in him selfe and the reuerence and authoritie which he knew Christian Princes bare to the sea apostolike yet he would not enter into alliance nor depend of any but expressing both in spech and working how litle account he made of all he forbare to ioyne with Maxymylian refused to enter secret intelligence with the kinge catholike but estraunging him selfe from euery one he inclined onely to the part of the Venetians expressing daily more and more a confirmacion of will to absolue them iudging it a thing very conuenient for the common safety of Italy and for his perticular sewertie and greatnes not to suffer them to perish Against this did make great resistance thEmbassadors of Maximylian and the french concurring also with them in publike practise thEmbassador of the king of Aragon notwithstanding he solicited the Pope secretly to the contrary fearing no lesse the greatnes of the french in regard of the kingdom of Naples and reaposing litle in the disposicion of Caesar for the slender stabilitie that was in him These Embassadors alleaged that it was not reasonable that the Pope should doe so great a benefite for those whom he was bound by equitie promisse to pursue by armes seeing by the confederacion of Cambray euery confederat was bownde reciprocally to ayde one an other till there was absolute recouerie of all those places which were named for euery perticular partie So that seeing Caesar had not yet conquered Treuisa neither one of them stoode acquited of such bond and promisse besides they vrged that he might iustly refuse thabsolucion both for that they had not restored to the Churche the townes of Romagna neither frankely nor willingly nor within the tearme set downe in the monicion and also for that euen then their obedience was not perfect absolute for that albeit besides the rēdring of the townes they had bene admonished to reckon for the frutes which they had not accomplished To these obiections the Pope made aunswer that since they were returned to penance had sued for absolucion in due humilitie it could not stande with the office of the Viccar of Christ to persecute them any further with spirituall weapons to the preiudice of so many soules specially hauing obteined of them the townes by that meane the occasion ceassing for the which they had bene subiect to the censures of the Church That concerning the reckoning or restitucion of the frutes it was but a matter accidental and vrged more to aggrauat their disobedience then for any necessary reason therefore not iust that it should stand against them as a matter of importance That it was an action of an other nature to pursue them with tēporall armes wherein determining to perseuer in the league of Cambray he offered him selfe to be ready and concurrant with the others notwithstanding that euery one of the confederats might iustly leaue of for that if Caesar had not Treuisa it hapned by his proper error refusing the first offers which the Venetians made to him by their Embassador both to leaue him all that they possessed in the firme land and also to set him downe a sufficient allowance and recompense in exchaunge of Treuisa And thus not being reteined by any contradiction or impedimēt of thEmbassadors he onely was slow to this action by the disposicion of his minde wherein albeit he esteemed the absolucion of the Venetians to be profitable to him and to the plots he had layd yet he determined not to giue it to them but with great regard to the dignitie of the sea apostolike and so as all those thinges which were dependant vpon the Church were wholy deliuered from their oppressions the same being one cause that he deferred to absolue them together with their vnwillingnes to consent to these two condicions the one that they shoulde set at libertie to the subiects of the Church the traffike nauigacion of the sea addriatike which they restrained against all such as would not aunswer a kind of tribute for the marchandise they brought the other that they should continue no longer at Ferrara A citie depending vpon the Church the office of Vecedomino The Venetians alleaged that they of Ferrara had consented to it Clement the sixt giuing no impediment who at that time remeyned with his Court in the citie of Auignion They proued besides that Alexander the fourth had giuen them the iurisdiction and gard of the goolfe vnder very large priuileages whereunto they were induced for that with their armies with their vertue with their exspenses they had defended it against the Sarazins and pirats Turkishe made that nauigacion assured to the Christians To these reasons it was aunswered on the Popes behalf that they of Ferrara could not in preiudice of thecclesiastik iurisdiction consent that any other should hold office or exercise dominion in Ferrara that the people of Ferrara had neuer willingly consented but were forced by a long and heauy warre after they had in vaine called the aide of the Pope whose censures the Venetians contemned were constrained to accept peace with condicions at the discression of those that could doe more with them by armes then by reason Touching their authoritie alleaged of Pope Alexander that he had graunted it to them it neither appeared by historie nor other authentike tradicion neither was there any faith to be giuen to it but by the testimonie of the Venetians A thinge of iust suspicion in their owne cause especially carying so great importance And be it there were some apparance of matter yet it was more likely that he who they sayd had accorded to such thinges in Venice had done it by threatnings or by feare then that a Pope of Rome to whom affore all others apperteineth the defence of iustice and the recourse of the oppressed would haue consented to an action so cruell and impudent and bearing domage to the whole world In this estate of affaires in this diuersitie of intencions of Princes in this slender power and reputacion of Caesar the Venetians vnder the leading of Andrea Gritti sent their armie to Vincensa where they knewe the people in a generall disposicion desired to returne vnder their iurisdiction And making their approches in the entrey of the euening they wonne the subburbes of P. after they had made great batteries with their artilleries Touching the citie albeit there were as yet within it very fewe souldiers yet the Venetians had no great sewertie to carie it
Onely the townesmen by the incensing of Fracasse as the brute ronne after they had sent their Embassadors to them about mydnight put them into the citie the Prince of Hanavv and Fracasse retyring into the castell And such is the propertie of victorie it was assuredly beleeued that if the Venetian armie obteining Vincensa had without delaye approched Verona that towne had done the like examples beinge of greate effect in the alteracion of fortune But the Capteines were of aduise not to yssue out of the towne til the castel were commaunded which they had at their deuocion the fourth day the P. of Hanavv and Fracassa distrusting their owne weakenes leauing it abandoned In matters of enterprise nothing is more hurtfull then delayes and nothing more hindreth the felicitie of victorie then not to ioyne oportunitie to occasion and fortune for in this meane while and respit new regiments of Caesar entred Verona together with three hundred launces of the french King vnder the enseigne of Monsr d'Aubigny In so much as conteining a strength of fiue hundred launces fiue thousand footemen spanish and Almains it was now no more easie to take it Not longe after the Venetian armie approched Verona was deuided into two partes in either of which were three hundred men at armes fiue hundred light horsemen and three thowsand footemen They hoped that vpon their approching there would be some cōmotion in the citie but because they appeared not affore the walls all in one time thinhabitants within the towne going to meete with the former part which came beyond the riuer of Adice and was already entred the subburbes constrained them to retire Luke Maluezze comming a litle after on the other side of the riuer with the other part retiring also And both they ioyning together incamped in the village of S. Martyn within fiue miles of Verona Where vnderstanding that two thowsand Almain footemen issued out of Basciana were gone to make pillage of the places about Citadella turning that way they inclosed thē in a valley called Fidato But thAlmains succored by those of Basciana made their way by force though with some hurt for the straite passages leauing Basciana abandoned the Venetians tooke it from Basciana one part of th armie went to Feltro and Cyuitall which places after they had recouered and commaunded they presented them selues before the rocke of Escalo which they commaunded after thartillerie had somewhat executed At the same time Anthonie and Hierome Sauorguiana gentlemen that followed the Venetian faction in the contrey of Fryull tooke new castell standing on a rough mountaine in the middest of the patrimonie so is called that part of Fryull which is beyond the riuer of Taillemont And all this while there was heard no other thing of Caesar then vaine rumors and how being moued with the action of Vincensa was immediatly come to Pietra he trauelled from one place to an other vsing great diligence with very small effect After this the Venetian armie drew towards Monselice and Montagnana both to recouer Polisena and to charge the places of Ferrara togither with their nauie which the Senat reiecting the councel of the most wise Senators who iudged it to rashnes to be intangled with new enterprises had determined to send against the D. of Ferrara well furnished with strength municion along the riuer of Pavv To this maner of action they were induced not so much for the profite of thaffaires present as for thincredible hatred they bare to him it seemed to them that they could not iustly complaine of that he had done to shake of the yoke of Vicedomino and to recouer Polisena but they supposed it neither to their honor nor profite to suffer that being not content to chalenge that which he pretended to apperteine to him by right he aspired to reteine that whereunto he had no way any cooller of interest for that at such time as Caesar leauied his seege from before Padoa he receiued of him in fee both the borow of Este from whence is spronge the name and familie of Este and also the borow of Montagnana for pawne and assurance of the money that had bene lent him to which places he pretended no right at all onles he reaposed equitie in his ambicion and tyrannie There were added to this the remembrance of many actions of insolencie and violence and other execucions done by his people in the recouerie of Polesina who pushed on with an incredible hatred against the name of the Venetians had executed great harmes and cruelties vpon the gentlemen yea euen to reuerse their houses and put fire in them In these respects it was agreed that their nauie and sea armie commaunded by Ange Treuisan compounded vpon seuenteene light gallies with a large furnishment of meaner vessells and able bodies for seruice should saile toward Ferrara This fleete entring into Pavv by the mouth of the furnaces and burning Coruola with certaine other villages neare to Pavv went pilling spoyling the cuntrey vp to the lake of Scuro from which place the light horsemen who followed them as a strēgth by land made incursions as farre as Ficherolo which albeit is rather a house of pleasance then a castell yet it is not without his reputacion and name for that Ro. S. Seuerin lay long time before it being Capteine to the Venetians in a warre which they had against Hercules father to Alphonso The comming of this nauie togither with the rumor of th armie by land that was to follow brought no litle amaze to the Duke who hauing but a slender strength of souldiours thinhabitants of Ferrara either for their small numbers or for their ignorance in warre not sufficient enough to oppose against such a daunger had no other meane to defend him selfe vntill he were comforted with the succors which he exspected from the Pope and french king then to let with force of shot bestowed vpon the brinke of Pavv that thennemies should passe no further for these impediments Treuisan after he had in vaine assaied to passe seeing he coulde aduaunce nothinge without he were succored by land came to an anker in the middest of the riuer of Pavv behind a litle I le right ouer against Puliselle A place within xj miles of Ferrara and very apt to torment the towne and make many hurtfull execucions vpon the contrey his intencion was to exspect there the armie who had gotten without great difficultie all Polisena hauing first recouered Montagnana by composicion by the which the Magistrates of Ferrara were deliuered to them as prisoners togither with the Capteines of the footemen that were within In this time of exspectacion of th armie for the more safe riding of the nauie in the place where it lay Treuisan beganne to raise two bastillions vpon the bankes of Pavv the one on that side to Ferrara the other vpon the shoare right against it casting withall a bridge vpon the vessels to haue the more oportunitie to succor that
to the way of Belinsone taking the bridge of Tresa with a garrison of 5. hundred french footemen left abandoned they incamped at Varesa exspecting there as they said the Bishop of Sion with new companies Albeit these beginnings troubled much the mindes of the french both for an ordinary feare they had of the Svvyzzers also perticularly respecting their owne weaknes hauing at that time in Myllan a very smal number of men at armes for that part of them were distributed for the gard of Bressa Leguaguo Valegge Pesquiero 3. hundred launces sent to the succors of the Duke of Ferrara 5. hundred being ioyned with the armie of Almains against the Venetians yet Monsr Chaumont assembling his forces expressing his vallour euen amyd his hard fortune marched with 5. huÌ„dred launces 4. thowsand footemeÌ„ tooke the plaine of Chastillon within 2. miles of Varesa hauing sent to the Mount of Briansa Ioh. Ia. Triuulce to th end that not so much with the bands which he brought with him which were in very smal number as with the fauour further strength of the men of the contrey he might be an impediment to the Svvyzzers for taking that waye The Svvyzzers assoone as they wereariued at Varesa sent to demauÌ„d passage of Monsr Chaumont saying they would goe to the seruice of the Church By reason whereof it was douted that they would passe to Ferrara either by the Duchie of Myllan by which way besides thimpediments of the french companies they should haue found difficultie to haue passed the riuers of Pavv and Oglia or els by taking the lefthande and coasting by the hils belowe Coma and Lecqua And passing the riuer of Adda which there is narrow and not rough from whence they might haue bene guided by the hill of the contrey of Bergamo and Bressia to the riuer of Oglio And hauing passed ouer there they might haue discended eyther by the contrey of Bressa or by Guiaradda vpon the marches of Mantua which is a contrey large beareth no places of force to haue resisted them So great was the reputacion of the vallour and order of that nation that in all euents Monsr Chaumont had no intencion to set vpon them although they made their discending into the plaine but with his horsemen footemen ioyned together with his field peeces to accoast and houer vppon them to cut of their vittells and to giue them as many impediments as he could without assaying the fortune to passe the riuers And in the meane while for that the places neare Varesa were well furnished with horsemen and footemen he visited them often times with false alarms keeping them in breath all the night At Varesa where the Svvyzzers suffered great want of vittells A new supply of foure thowsand came ioyned with them And the fourth day after their comming they marched altogether towardes Castillon keeping vpon the left hande a long the hills marching alwaies in cloase ranke in good order more respecting to march in sauetie then to make speede They were in euery esquadron foure skore or an hundred the last ranks being all halfaques harquebusiers Their obseruacion was such in marching that much lesse that theÌ„nemy could auoid them by any aduauÌ„tage but of the contrary they made a valiant defence against the french army which alwaies accoasted them put them to the skirmish both behind before yea some times they would draw out of their squadrons an hundred or fiftye to enterteine the skirmish some times aduauncing some times staying some times retyring not that there could be discerned in their doinges the least disorder They thought it no dishonor to retyre when by giuing of place they might profit them selues endaunger thennemy In this order they arriued the first day at the passage of the bridge of Vedin which was garded by Capteine Molard with certeine Gascon fotemeÌ„ who being driueÌ„ back with the shot of their balfaques they lodged the same night at Apprana eight miles from Varesa Chaumont encamped within Assaron towards the hil of Brianso six miles from Appiano The day following they drew along the hils towards Cantu Chaumout accoasting them alwaies with two hundred lauÌ„ces for that by the sharpnes or steepenes of the places thartilleries remeined more lower together with the footemen that garded them And yet in the half way eyther for the domages which the frenche had giuen them that day whereof Chaumont made not a litle glory or for that such was their resolucion leauing the way of Cantu and turning more on the left hand they went retyring by the high places towards Coma encamping for that night in a subberbe of that citie and in the villages thereabout from the subberbe of Coma they made an other lodging at Châ—asso three myles more forward keeping the french men in dout whether they would returne to Belinsone by the valley of Lungaro or draw towards the riuer of Adda where albert they were not furnished with bridges yet many supposed that their vallour would opeÌ„ them a way to passe necessitie making them to vse plankes in steade of bridge â–ª But putting them out of dowt the daye following they went and harbored at the bridge of Trese and from thence retyred by trowpes into their houses being reduced into the vttermost extremitie of vittells and wantes of money it was beleeued that this retraite so sâ—ddeine was done for want of money for the difficulties to passe the riuers but much more for the necessitie of vittells impediments of great importance to hinder both the fortune the vallour and felicitie of an armie In this sorte the frenche men were deliuered for this tyme of a daunger which they esteemed not litle notwithstanding the kinge making those thinges greater then they were in deede affirmed that he coulde not but holde it profitable for his affayres to suffer them to passe making this question whether of these two thinges would make the Pope more weake eyther to be without souldiours or to haue an armie that came to offend him as did the Svvyzzers whome with so many forces and so much treasor he had had all the paine in the world to manage The perill of the french had bene farre greater if at one tyme they had bene assayled in many places according to the deuises of the Pope But as thenterprise of Genes was affore the mouing of the Svvyzzers so the armie of the Venetians aduaunced not so soone as was determined notwithstanding they had a singuler occasion and commoditie for that the Almain bandes within Vincensa with whom were the Spanish footemen and the fiue hundred frenche launces beinge muche diminished since the departure of Monsr Chaumont the Venetians yssuing out of Padoa recouered without great trauell Este Monselice Montagnano Marestiquo and Basciana And ioyning vallour to their fortune they passed further taking aduauntage of the retyring of thAlmains drawing the way of Verona they entred into Vincensa which they had abandoned except
Leguaguo they reconquered with this felicitie all those peeces which with fo great exspenses trauel of the french men they had lost in the whole sommer And so they came to S. Martyn fiue miles from Verona into which city thennemies retyred their retraite not being without daunger by the doutful valour of Luke Maluezzo who being then their general for that Io. P. Ballon had left their pay shewed a courage inferior to the reputacion of the place which he held for the Venetians being come to the village of Tovvre thennemies leauing great prouision of vittells in their lodgings tooke the way to Verona being followed with the whole Venetian armie continually suffering by their light horsemen And yet the french susteining valiantly the rearegard chiefly with their shot they passed the riuer of Appan and marched without daunger to Nevv tovvne the Venetians incamping within halfe a mile of them who forbearing to followe the daye after with that diligence they did before for that their footemen were not able to hold chasse with the horsemen they retyred in sauetie to Verona from S. Martyn after they had remeined there certeine dayes approching neare Verona not without being blamed for the vnprofitable stay they had made they began to employ their artilleries which they had plāted vpon the other mountaine against the castell of S. Felix and the next wall perhaps they made choise of that place for the difficultie to be refortified and that the horsemen could not execute but with great discommodities The Venetian armie conteined eight hundred men at armes three thowsand light horsemen the most part estradiots ten thowsand footemen with a great trayne quantitye of peysants that followed And within Verona were three hundred spanish launces one hundred launces of Almains Italians and foure hundred french launces fiue hundred footemen paied by the king and foure thowsand Almains no longer vnder the guiding of the Prince of Hanavv who was dead certeine daies affore The people and inhabitants of Verona very ill disposed to the Almains were vp with their weapōs in their hands A matter wherin the Venetians had much hoped whose light horsemen passing at the same time the riuer of Adice at a foard vnder Verona ronne ouer the whole contrey Thartilleries of the Venetians battred the wall in great furie notwithstanding the artillerie planted within by the french and couered with defenses did greatly distresse those that were without who had no rampiers Lactance Bergame A Colonell of the greatest account with the Venetians was striken with a shot of thartillerie of which he died within few dayes after At last thartillery without hauing done a wonderful execucion and dismantled a great part of the wall euen to the beginning of the skarpe and so dismounted and broken their cannons that thartillerie within was of little seruice thAlmains were not without feare to loase the castell notwithstanding it was well rampired To which losse to th ende the loasing of the citie were not ioyned they determined in cases of necessities to retyre to certayne rampiers which they had made in a place neare to beate vpon the sodayne with their Cannons which they had already planted the face of the inner parte of the castell hoping to make suche an opening that thenemies should finde small safetie to tary there But the vallour of those that were within was farre aboue the yertue of the other for that in the Venetian armie were no other bandes of footmen then Italians who beeing ordinarily payed euery fortie dayes followed that seruice more for that they founde in other places very slender preferment then for any other reason Besides thItalian footmen not accustomed to the order of seruice beyonde the Mountes neither assured in holdes nor resolute in the fielde were at that time almost reiected of euery one that had meane to furnishe their seruice with footemen straungers specially with Svvizzers Almains and Spaniards Therefore the towne beeing defended with a greater vallour then it was assaulted there issued out one night about eightene hundred footemen with certayne Frenche horsemen to charge the artillerie and the footmen that garded it beeing easily put to flight they choaked two great peeces striuing to draw them into the towne The Alarme was sodenly through all the campe when Zitolo Perouso bringing a reskewe of footmen and making haste more then others to the misfortune that attended him in fighting valiauntly finished his life with great glorie But Denis de Naldo comming on with the greater part of th armie thenemie was compelled to reabandon thartillerie and retyre notwithstanding with great prayse for that in the beginning they brake the garde that defended thartillerie and after made slaughter of a great parte of suche as came first to the reskew and lastely retyred almost all in safetie This accident brought great discouragement to the Venetian capteines who seeing the inhabitantes made no mutinie and iudging withall that their abyding there would be no lesse vnprofitable then full of perill for theyll suretie of their campe their footemen beeing lodged in the mountayne and their horsemen in the valley they determined to retyre to their olde lodging at S. Martin wherein they made so muche the more speede by howmuche they vnderstoode that Monsr Chaumont woulde come to the reskew of the towne hauing already auoyded the perill of the Svvizzers At such time as the campe leauyed and brake vp the forragers of Verona accompanied with a great strength entred the valley of Poliente ioyning to the mountayne of S. Felix but many light horsemen of the Venetians being sent out for reskew and seasing first of the entrie of the valley put them all to the sworde or to the fortune of prisoners From S. Martin the Venetian armie drewe to S. Boniface beeing fearefull of the comming of Monsr Chaumont About this time the garrison within Treuisa tooke by composition the towne of Asola neare the ryuer Musone wherein were eight hundred Almain footmen The castell also suffring the samefortune And in the countrey of Friul they proceded with the same variations and cruelties accustomed not seeming to make warre vpon enemies but prosecuting on all partes the extreme destruction of buyldings places and whole countreis The like calamities also consumed Istria the libertie of the warre making all things lawfull to the furie of the souldiours whose insolencies left no other comfort to any sortes of people then such as may be exspected in an vnbridled furie of warre About this time the Marquis of Mantua was deliuered out of prison by a strange deuise practised by the Pope wherevnto he was induced by an auncient affection which he bare to him before ioyned to a desire to serue his turne of him and the cōmoditie of his estate in the warre against the French king It was spread throughout all Italie that in these respects he was the worker of his deliuerie and set him at libertie But it was credibly knowen by an Author worthy of fayth
Ast which beeing receyued in the name and authoritie of the league by the departure of the frenche men the Pope had vainely sent thether to take possession of it the Bishop of Agrigenta pretending that what soeuer was on this side Pavv apperteyned to the Churche This offer was constantly refused of Alfonso who for that it comprehended a demaunde contrary to all the hopes that had bene giuen him beganne to feare least the Pope sought but to interteyne him cunningly within Rome whilest he dressed some execucion agaynst Ferrara the late accident at Regge nothinge diminishing the reason of this feare The Pope had dealt with thinhabitants of Regge who in so great confusion of thinges feared much to giue them selues vppe to the Churche following the example of Parma and Plaisance wherein to giue greater force to his councells and perswasions he had giuen direction to the Duke of Vrbyn to march with his companies vppon the territories of Modona In like sorte Vitfruch was gonne to Regge to attempt the like action for the profitte of Caesar on whose behalfe did worke the Cardinall of Este who in the absence of his brother had charge ouer his estates he seeing that citie could not bee kept and iudging the daunger would bee lesse if it fell into the handes of Caesar who bothe pretended nothing against Ferrara and also in his affayres there was hope of a greater chaunge he aduised the people of Regge rather to acknowledge the Empire then the Church But they aunswered in matters of election the will of a popular multitude is stronger then their reason that they woulde followe thexample of the Duke who was gonne to the Pope and not to Caesar And so receyued into their towne the souldiours of the Church who immediatly founde meanes to bee Lordes of the Citadell notwithstanding Vitsruch had furnished it with a garrison of footemen Lastly Garfagnana was rendred to the Duke of Vrbyn who returning afterwards to Bolognia dismissed all his bandes of footemen for that the confederats somewhat angrie that the Pope occupied Parma and Plaisance the Cardinall of Syon signified to the Duke that it was not necessary he passed further since the victorie was already obteyned against the common enemies The Duke of Ferrara being entred into many suspicions both for the hard condicions that the Pope offered and for the taking of Regge made meane to the Pope by the spanish Embassador and Fabrice Colonno who neuer left to accompanie him to haue leaue to returne to Ferrara This request the Pope showed no disposicion to agree vnto but menteyned that the safeconduit which he had giuen him for the controuersie he had with the Church could not let him to doe iustice to his perticular Creditors of whom many demaunded instantly that he would administer iustice to them ThEmbassador and Fabricio aunswered him frankely that it was not to the Duke and to them that he ought to breake his faith And therefore to preuent the Pope to doe any further spite against him the next morning Fabricio being well mounted went towards the portall of S. Iohn de Latran the Duke and Mark. Anth. Colonno following him a good distance of And finding the portall garded with a greater strength then it was wont to bee and suche as was sette to stoppe his going he hauing a force aboue theirs brought the Duke thorowe the gate and conducted him in sewertie to the water side This friendshippe he did to the Duke in recompense of the benefit of his libertie which he had receyued of him for it is not to bee doubted that the Pope would not still haue reteyned him prisoner had it not beene for thimpediment of the Colonnois who finding that the way was daungerous for him to goe by lande were driuen to procure his passage by sea to Ferrara And whilest these thinges were in doing the Pope in whome was yet no diminucion of hatred agaynst the libertie of the Florentyns had so wrought with the Cardinall of Syon that the bandes of souldiours which they had sent to the king were strypped and put to spoyle of these bandes albeit suche as were vnder Luke Sauella being six skore men at armes and fifty light horsemen the residue were left for the garde of Bressia vnder Frauncis Torelle had affore the Frenche armye were passed the ryuer of Pavv obteyned safeconduit of the Cardinall of Syon confirmed by the othe and fayth of Io. Pavvle Baillon and almoste all the Venetian Capteynes that they myght returne to Tuskane yet as they laye lodged neare to Cremona according to the rule and direction they had receyued they were spoyled by the Venetian souldiours by the consent of the Cardinall of Syon Who to th ende the violence myght bee executed with more sewertie sent thether as some suppose two thowsande footemen the rather for that the companyes of Tryuulce and others were lodged with them and they for that they were almoste all Italian souldiours had lykewise obteyned saffeconduit to passe Immediatly vpon the robberye and spoyle of these souldiours the Bishoppe of Syon sent to Christopher More and Pavvle Capello agents for the Senat to demaunde the bootye that had bene made as apperteyning to the Svvyzzers But they refused it and therefore comming the next daye to the campe of the Svvyzzers to speake with the Cardinall of Syon they were almoste all ledde prisoners to Iacques Staffler their Capteyne and by him caryed to the Cardinall who constrayned them to paye six thowsande duckatts in recompense of the praye not holding it conuenient that his disloyaltye shoulde turne to the profitte of others he sent also to summon the Marquis of Montferrat to deliuer to him as prysoner Nicholas Capponi Embassador of the Florentyns to whome he had giuen saffeconduit beeing retyred to Casall Ceruas In this meane whyle the Senat desiring to recouer Bressia and Crema labored the Cardinall of Syon that their companies myght be returned whom the Cardinall enterteyned vnder cooler to marche together with the Svvyzzers into Pyemont agaynst the Duke of Sauoye and the Marquis of Salussa who had followed the faction of the Frenche King But that reason ceassing afterwardes bothe for the wonderfull augmentacion of the number of Svvyzzers and also for that it was well seene that the frenche souldiours returned ouer the Mountes he neither refused nor agreed that they should goe A matter supposed altogether to proceede of the instance of Caesar to th ende they should not recouer those townes At last the Svvyzzers beeing in Alexandria the Venetians departed from Bosco vppon the suddeine and passed the riuer of Pavv without any impediment at Caua vppon the territories of Cremona An expedicion which the Cardinall might haue let if he had not dissembled it as was beleeued at the Popes request But beeing once ouer the riuer some marched agaynst Bressia and some tooke the entreprise of Crema bothe which were kept yet for the frenche king The frenche men that were within Bressia seeing their present fortune